Marvel Studios and Disney are making a significant move in the world of television as they bring their acclaimed Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel, to ABC. This transition marks the first Marvel series to make the leap from streaming to traditional broadcast television. The Emmy-nominated show, starring Iman Vellani as the eponymous character Kamala Khan, will debut on ABC as part of The Wonderful World of Disney programming for two consecutive Saturday nights.
According to Collider, this strategic move is aimed at increasing viewership and introducing Kamala Khan to a broader audience ahead of her cinematic appearance in the upcoming film The Marvels, set to be released in November.
The shift of Ms. Marvel to ABC is noteworthy as it comes three years after the conclusion of Agents of SHIELD, which marked the end of the original TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This move also deviates from recent developments in Hollywood, including the strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which have halted active Marvel productions.
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger’s recent statement about scaling back on new Marvel and Star Wars projects, citing oversaturation and a decline in quality, adds further intrigue to the significance of Ms. Marvel’s broadcast on ABC.
Ms. Marvel has stood out within the MCU not only for its narrative ties to The Marvels but also for its heartfelt exploration of family and cultural heritage through the character of Kamala Khan. Kamala, a young Pakistani-American girl from New Jersey, navigates the challenges of her dual life as a teenager and a superhero while unraveling her family’s roots and the historical events of British-occupied India and the Indian Partition.
The complexity of this journey and the show’s captivating storytelling have contributed to its appeal and uniqueness.
As fans eagerly anticipate Kamala joining forces with Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) in The Marvels, her television debut on ABC marks an exciting milestone for the MCU. It could potentially pave the way for new approaches and strategies in the ever-evolving landscape of broadcast television and streaming services.
ABC will air the first three action-packed episodes of Ms. Marvel on August 5th, treating viewers to an engrossing evening from 8 pm to 11 pm ET. And the excitement doesn’t end there. Exactly one week later, on August 12th, the last three episodes of the series will grace the screens during the same time slot.
Marvel fans are advised to mark their calendars, as they are in for a marvelous treat!
