Your Complete Guide To Every Upcoming Marvel TV Show

There is no stopping the colossal juggernaut of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the big screen, and the same is true of its increasingly successful and ever growing TV output. We’ve already had the second seasons of Daredevil and Agent Carter as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s third run this year, but over the upcoming months and through 2017 we will be bombarded with a lot more – from comedy takes on the Marvel universe to huge crossover event series. Right now we’ve got an impressive eleven confirmed Marvel shows ahead of us - including two X-Men-inspired series from Fox. And that's not even counting any plans Marvel might have hidden up their sleeves. For example, the rumour that Blade, Ghost Rider and Moon Knight may be joining the Netflix line-up. To help you get to grips with all the superhero TV coming your way, here is a complete overview of Marvel’s upcoming small screen roster, ranked from the least anticipated to the ones we are most looking forward to. 10) Damage Control When’s it start? Most likely the 2016/2017 season on ABC. Who’s involved? No cast have been announced yet, but comedy writer and producer Ben Karlin is attached as executive producer and is writing the pilot. Karlin’s previous work includes Modern Family, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. What’s it about? As you might have guessed from Karlin’s resume, Damage Control will be a half-hour comedy show set in the Marvel world. Based on the comic series of the same name, it will follow the unfortunate folk who have to clear up the city after the superheroes have come along and trashed it. Verdict: Nothing has been heard about this one since last October, and since then Agent Carter and Most Wanted have been cancelled – so it's possible Damage Control has been canned, as well. Assuming it hasn’t, though, this will hopefully be a fun subversion of Marvel’s usual TV shows. Maybe it will even feature cameos from some actual superheroes? 9) Hellfire When’s it start? Nothing is certain, but it's thought to arrive sometime in 2017 on Fox. Who’s involved? No one right now. Evan Katz and Manny Coto were set to exec produce but jumped ship for 24: Legacy. Likewise, Star Trek Beyond’s Patrick McKay and JD Payne will not be writing the show as expected. What’s it about? In the 1960s, a young special agent will meet a mysterious woman with impossible abilities. It turns out she is part of a clandestine cabal of superpowered millionaires who want to take over the world. Verdict: A show based around the villainous secret society seen in X-Men: First Class is an interesting concept, but right now we’re not sure just how this one will work. Once some talent behind and in front of the cameras is attached, however, we might be able to get a little more excited for it. 8) Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 4) When’s it start? Unknown, though we’re fairly certain it will return in late September like previous runs. Who’s involved? Clark Gregg, Ming-NaWen, Chloe Bennett, Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker will return, though Brett Dalton won’t. Adrienne Palicki and Nick Blood will presumably join back with the team, after the cancellation of their spinoff Most Wanted. What’s it about? After Phil Coulson’s team went through a tough time in season three, things will apparently get even edgier and darker in the next run. Verdict: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is sort of the forgotten sibling of the Marvel TV universe, as it doesn’t receive the widespread acclaim of the Netflix shows or possess the internet fandom of Agent Carter. However, it does have a loyal band of followers – it has got to at least a fourth season, after all - who no doubt can’t wait for the series to return. 7) Cloak And Dagger When’s it start? It's too early to say, but we do know it will air on the youth-orientated network Freeform. Who’s involved? Again, the announcement was only made on the show back in April and there have been no names attached so far. What’s it about? In the comics, Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Jones are too junkie teens who gain powers from taking an experimental drug. With the ability to emit light/engulf others in darkness, they clean up their act, fight crime and fall in love. Verdict: Marvel fans have been clamouring for a TV show based on these popular characters for years now, so many are excited to see how this one turns out. The fact that it is on a different network from other Marvel shows may ring warning bells, and some might not like the emphasis it will most likely have on teen romance, but we're still remaining optimistic about this one. 6) Legion When’s it start? Early 2017 on Fox. Who’s involved? Created by Fargo’s Noah Fawley, Legion will star Dan Stevens, with Rachel Keller, Jean Smart and Aubrey Plaza in supporting roles. X-Men movie heads Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are exec producers, along with Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb. What’s it about? David Haller has suffered from schizophrenia all his life. But when he meets the girl of his dreams – another patient – he discovers that the voices in his head might just be real. Verdict: For how different this sounds from the X-Men movies that it will apparently share a universe with, Legion is a far more exciting prospect than Hellfire. There’s a lot of interesting talent attached to this too, so hopefully that will show in the final product. Plus, Haller is the son of Professor X in the comics, and we’re eager to see if this will be addressed in the show. 5) Jessica Jones (Season 2) When’s it out? Don’t know yet, but it will be filming back to back with The Defenders, which arrives in late 2017, so hopefully not long after that. Who’s involved? Krysten Ritter will naturally be returning in season 2, as will Rachael Taylor, Eka Darville and showrunner Melissa Rosenberg. Sadly, it looks like David Tennant won’t be back as the chilling Kilgrave. What’s it about? Ritter has hinted that Jessica’s character arc in season 2 will be dealing with the fallout of season 1’s finale, and the fact that she has now become a killer without Kilgrave’s influence. Verdict: The first season of Jessica Jones was perhaps the smartest Marvel TV show ever, with superb performances and sensitive hard-hitting writing. There’s a lot of pressure on this second season to match it, but we're quietly hopeful that it will. The same goes for Daredevil’s third season, which isn’t on this list as it has not been officially confirmed. 4) Luke Cage When’s it out? Finally, a specific date! Luke Cage will arrive on Netflix on September 30th. Who’s involved? Mike Coulter will reprise his Jessica Jones role as the man with unbreakable skin. Joining him are Simone Missick, Alfre Woodard and Mahershala Ali. NCIS’ Cheo Hodari Coker is the showrunner. What’s it about? After an experiment goes wrong and gives him special abilities, Luke Cage tries to rebuild his life in Harlem – and fight a battle for the future of his city. As opposed to JJ’s neo-noir feel, Luke Cage has been described as “The Wire of Marvel television.” Verdict: Mike Coulter made a fantastic debut as Luke ‘Power Man’ Cage in JJ, so we eagerly await the arrival of his own solo show. Seeing this long-running Marvel character finally getting his own gig is exciting enough, but the success of previous Netflix/Marvel collaborations has us even more pumped. 3) The Punisher When’s it out? That hasn’t been revealed yet but, if Marvel up their Netflix quota from two series a year to three, we could see this sometime in 2017. Who’s involved? After critical acclaim for his performance in Daredevil season 2, Jon Bernthal is returning as Frank Castle AKA The Punisher. Hannibal writer Steve Lightfoot is showrunning and penning the opening two episodes. What’s it about? Presumably the series will follow Frank’s attempts to clear up New York one criminal at a time, after putting his family’s death behind him in Daredevil. Verdict: As said above, Bernthal’s tortured, unexpectedly emotive, portrayal in Daredevil was the best Punisher yet, so we can’t wait to see him take centre stage in his own Netflix series. Now that his family’s killer has apparently been revealed, Bernthal can now play the fully-fledged anti-hero from the comics. 2) Iron Fist When’s it out? Given Marvel’s usual schedule for its Netflix shows, expect for Iron Fist to land on the streaming service in early 2017. Who’s involved? Finn Jones will make his MCU debut as Danny Rand, with Jessica Henwick, David Wenham, Jessica Stroup and Tom Pelphrey. Dexter showrunner Scott Buck is overseeing the show. What’s it about? Danny Rand returns to New York, after many years in Tibet, ready to fight corruption in the city with his kung fu mastery and the mystical power of the Iron Fist. Verdict: With its supernatural subject matter, Iron Fist is such a departure from Marvel’s previous Netflix shows that we can’t wait to see how it meshes in with the existing series. Danny Rand is also the last of the soon-to-be Defenders that we have yet to meet, and we're excited to see him in action. 1) The Defenders When’s it out? No date is fixed yet, but we think that it will appear sometime in the second half of 2017. Boy, that’s going to be a good year for Marvel TV fans. Who’s involved? The Defenders will bring together each of Marvel’s Netflix heroes - Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Coulter and Finn Jones – in one big event series. Daredevil season two showrunners Marco Ramirez and Doug Petrie will also helm this. What’s it about? We don’t yet know what new threat will bring together New York’s finest streetwise heroes, but there is talk that it will be a supernatural enemy – with one rumour stating that it will be Mephisto, the Devil’s demonic right hand man. Verdict: If there's one thing superhero fans are sure to love it's a big crossover event, and Marvel followers have been waiting for this one since it was announced back in 2014. Here’s hoping The Defenders can match the level of excitement and entertainment that its movie counterpart, The Avengers, reached back in 2012.