List of Marvel Cinematic Universe television series

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–)

Agent Phil Coulson assembles a small team of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) agents to handle strange new cases. After discovering that Project Centipede and their leader, "The Clairvoyant", were affiliated with Hydra, a terrorist organization, Coulson and his team must deal with Hydra members still at large following Hydra's infiltration of, and the destruction of, S.H.I.E.L.D., while also looking to restore trust from the government and public. In the wake of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s wars with Hydra and the Inhumans, a race of superhumans, Coulson begins a secret mission to protect the world from new threats. After the defeat of the Inhuman Hive and with Hydra destroyed, S.H.I.E.L.D. is made a legitimate organization once again, with Coulson returning to being a field agent, and is tasked with tracking down more enhanced people–including Robbie Reyes / Ghost Rider–while Agent Leo Fitz and Dr. Holden Radcliffe complete their work on Life Model Decoys.

In August 2012, ABC ordered a pilot for a show called S.H.I.E.L.D., to be written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen, and directed by Joss Whedon. On April 6, 2013, ABC announced that the show would be titled Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and it was officially ordered to series on May 10, 2013. Jed Whedon, Tancharoen and Jeffrey Bell act as the series' showrunners, while Clark Gregg reprises his role from the films as Phil Coulson. The series was renewed for a second season on May 8, 2014, a third on May 7, 2015, and a fourth on March 3, 2016.

The first season, which premiered on September 24, 2013, aired episodes that directly relate to events in the films Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The revelation in Captain America: The Winter Soldier that S.H.I.E.L.D. had been infiltrated by Hydra had a huge impact on the series. Regarding the synergy the show had with addressing events from the film, Loeb said, "It's an extremely unique experience that doesn't exist anywhere else out there in the entertainment business." The second season, which premiered on September 23, 2014, introduces Inhumans to the MCU, ahead of their own television series. Additionally, a recurring plot point in the first two seasons involved the body of a member of the Kree race, who play a significant role in Guardians of the Galaxy. The third season, which premiered on September 29, 2015, introduces the concept of the Secret Warriors, with new Inhuman characters inspired by the comic of the same name, as well as Life Model Decoys. The fourth season, which premiered on September 20, 2016, sees Robbie Reyes / Ghost Rider introduced to the MCU, and ties to the second season of Agent Carter and Doctor Strange.

In the first season, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Maximiliano Hernández, Titus Welliver and Jaimie Alexander all reprise their roles as Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Jasper Sitwell, Felix Blake, and Sif, respectively, from previous MCU films and One-Shots. In the second season, Alexander and Smulders return, while Hayley Atwell, Neal McDonough, Kenneth Choi, and Henry Goodman also reprise their roles as Peggy Carter, Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan, Jim Morita, and List, respectively, from previous MCU films. In the third season, William Sadler reprises his role as Matthew Ellis from the MCU films, and Powers Boothe recurs as his previously unnamed The Avengers character, Gideon Malick.

Marvel's Agent Carter (2015–16)

In 1946, Peggy Carter must balance the routine office work she does for the Strategic Scientific Reserve while secretly assisting Howard Stark, who finds himself framed for supplying deadly weapons to enemies of the United States. Carter is assisted by Stark's butler, Edwin Jarvis, to find those responsible and dispose of the weapons. Carter eventually moves from New York City to Los Angeles to deal with the threats of the new atomic age in the wake of World War II, gaining new friends, a new home and potential new love.

By September 2013, Marvel was developing a series inspired by the Agent Carter One-Shot, featuring Peggy Carter, and in January 2014, the series was confirmed to be in development, with the script for a potential pilot to be written by Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier writers Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. On May 8, 2014, ABC officially ordered Marvel's Agent Carter to series. Tara Butters, Michele Fazekas and Chris Dingess act as showrunners on the series, while Hayley Atwell reprises her role from the films as Peggy Carter. The series was renewed for a second season on May 7, 2015, and was officially canceled by ABC on May 12, 2016.

The first season, which premiered on January 6, 2015, introduces the origins of the Black Widow and Winter Soldier programs, which both appear in several MCU films. The second season, which premiered on January 19, 2016, features the Darkforce, which ties to the character Marcus Daniels in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Doctor Strange.

In the first season, Dominic Cooper reprise his role of Howard Stark from Captain America: The First Avenger. James D'Arcy portrays Edwin Jarvis, Stark's butler in the series who eventually serves as inspiration for Tony Stark's artificial intelligence J.A.R.V.I.S. Costa Ronin portrays a young Anton Vanko, the co-creator of the arc reactor with Stark. Chris Evans appears as Steve Rogers / Captain America via archive footage from The First Avenger. McDonough and Toby Jones reprise their roles as Dugan and Arnim Zola, respectively. In the second season, Cooper returns to reprise his role.

Marvel's Inhumans

The series is centered on Black Bolt and other members of the Inhuman Royal Family.

In November 2016, Marvel Television and IMAX Corporation announced Marvel's Inhumans, to be produced in conjunction with ABC Studios. The series first two episodes will be filmed entirely on IMAX digital cameras, and will premiere on IMAX screens on September 1, 2017, for two weeks. Select action sequences in the rest of the series will also be shot on IMAX. ABC will then broadcast the series weekly starting on September 26, 2017, with the network airing of the first two episodes featuring exclusive content, outside of the versions screened on IMAX. The series was neither intended to be a reworking of the planned film from Marvel Studios, nor a spin-off from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ben Sherwood, president of Disney–ABC Television Group, added that "We’ve worked very carefully with our friends at Marvel Studios—and this is a critical point—to make sure that calendar-wise and content-wise we are only enhancing" the MCU; the theatrical debut of the series was timed to not interfere with the release of any Marvel Studios films. In December 2016, Scott Buck was announced as showrunner and executive producer for the series. In February 2017, Anson Mount was cast as Black Bolt. Filming began in March 2017 in Hawaii.

Netflix series

By October 2013, Marvel was preparing four drama series and a miniseries to present to video on demand services and cable providers, with Netflix, Amazon, and WGN America expressing interest. That November, it was announced that Disney would provide Netflix with live-action series based on Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage, leading up to a miniseries based on the Defenders.

Marvel's Daredevil (2015–)

Lawyer-by-day Matt Murdock uses his heightened senses from being blinded as a young boy to fight crime at night on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen as Daredevil, juxtaposed with the rise of crime lord Wilson Fisk. Murdock eventually crosses paths with Frank Castle / Punisher, a vigilante with far deadlier methods, and sees the return of his old girlfriend–Elektra Natchios.

In December 2013, Marvel confirmed that Drew Goddard would be the executive producer and showrunner for Daredevil, and would write and direct the first episode, though at the end of May 2014, it was announced that Goddard would no longer be the showrunner for the series, being replaced by Steven S. DeKnight. Goddard, who wrote the first two episodes, remained with the show as an executive producer. It was also revealed that the series would be titled Marvel's Daredevil. A few days later, Charlie Cox was cast as Daredevil. A second season was ordered on April 21, 2015, with Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez taking over as showrunners from DeKnight, who could not return to the series due to a prior commitment. A third season was ordered in July 2016.

The first season, which debuted in its entirety on April 10, 2015, features references to The Avengers and the Battle of New York, as well as mentioning Carl "Crusher" Creel, who appears on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The insignia for the Iron Fist antagonist Steel Serpent is also seen in the season. The second season, which premiered on March 18, 2016, features the motorcycle gang Dogs of Hell, who appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with numerous references to the events of the first season of Jessica Jones.

In the second season, Jon Bernthal was cast in a leading role as Frank Castle / Punisher, before headlining his own series, while Michelle Hurd and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their roles of Samantha Reyes and Jeri Hogarth from Jessica Jones.

Marvel's Jessica Jones (2015–)

Former superhero Jessica Jones, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, opens her own detective agency to help people.

In November 2013, Melissa Rosenberg was announced to write and executive produce the series, and the following March, Loeb stated that filming would begin after Daredevil. In December 2014, Krysten Ritter was cast as Jessica Jones in the series, officially titled Marvel's Jessica Jones. A second season was ordered on January 17, 2016.

The first season, which debuted in its entirety on November 20, 2015, features references to the events of The Avengers and the Avengers.

In the first season, Mike Colter was cast as Luke Cage, a recurring role in the series before headlining his own series. Rosario Dawson reprises her Daredevil role of Claire Temple, as does Royce Johnson in his role of Brett Mahoney.

Marvel's Luke Cage (2016–)

When a sabotaged experiment gives him super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive attempting to rebuild his life in Harlem, and must soon confront his past and fight a battle for the heart of his city.

Colter reprises his role as Carl Lucas / Luke Cage in his own series, titled Marvel's Luke Cage. In March 2014, Loeb stated that the series would begin filming after Iron Fist, being the fourth of the individual series. By March 2015, it was instead slated to be the third of the individual series, beginning production after Jessica Jones. The series was switched with Iron Fist after the positive reception Luke Cage received on Jessica Jones, becoming that series' breakout star and Marvel wanting to "follow the momentum". Also in March, Cheo Hodari Coker was announced as showrunner and executive producer of the series. A second season was ordered on December 3, 2016.

The first season, which premiered on September 30, 2016, features references to The Avengers, the second season of Daredevil, the first season of Jessica Jones, and a flier for Colleen Wing's martial arts class, and mentions Justin Hammer, Wilson Fisk and Frank Castle. Dawson, Rob Morgan, Rachel Taylor, Stephen Rider, Parisa Fitz-Henley, and Danny Johnson reprise their roles as Claire Temple, Turk Barrett, Trish Walker, Blake Tower, Reva Connors and Ben Donovan in the series, respectively.

Marvel's Iron Fist

Danny Rand returns to New York City, after being missing for fifteen years, to reclaim his family company. However, when a threat emerges, Rand must choose between his family's legacy and his duties as the Iron Fist.

In March 2014, Loeb initially stated that the series would begin filming after Jessica Jones as the third of the individual series. By March 2015, it was expected to be the fourth of the individual series, entering production following Luke Cage. The series was switched with Luke Cage after the positive reception Luke Cage received on Jessica Jones, becoming that series' breakout star and Marvel wanting to "follow the momentum". In April 2015, the title of the series was revealed to be Marvel's Iron Fist. In December 2015, Marvel announced that Scott Buck would serve as showrunner and executive producer of the series. In February 2016, Finn Jones was cast as Rand. Filming began in New York City in April 2016, and concluded in October 2016. The series is set to premiere on March 17, 2017.

Moss, Dawson, and Wai Ching Ho reprise their roles as Jeri Hogarth, Claire Temple, and Gao in the series.

Marvel's The Defenders

The superheroes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist team-up in New York City.

The Defenders sees Cox, Ritter, Colter, and Jones reprise their roles as Matt Murdock / Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Danny Rand / Iron Fist, respectively, from the previous television series. In March 2014, Loeb stated that the miniseries, officially titled Marvel's The Defenders, would begin filming after Iron Fist. In April 2016, Marvel announced that Douglas Petrie and Marco Ramirez would act as showrunners for The Defenders. However, by the start of filming in New York City in October 2016, Petrie had left the series as co-showrunner. The eight-episode event is set to premiere in mid-2017.

The miniseries also sees many supporting characters from the individual series reprise their roles, including, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Scott Glenn, Élodie Yung, Eka Darville, Moss, Taylor, Simone Missick, Jessica Henwick, and Dawson as Karen Page, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, Stick, Elektra Natchios, Malcolm Ducasse, Jeri Hogarth, Trish Walker, Misty Knight, Colleen Wing, and Claire Temple, respectively.

Marvel's The Punisher

Frank Castle is haunted and hunted after the murder of his family and becomes a vigilante known in the criminal underworld as "the Punisher", who aims to fight crime by any means necessary.

By January 2016, ahead of the debut of Bernthal as armed vigilante Frank Castle / Punisher in the second season of Daredevil, Netflix was in "very early development" on a spin-off series titled The Punisher, and was looking for a showrunner. The series would be centered on Bernthal as Castle, and was described as a stand-alone series, outside of the series leading up to The Defenders. Loeb implied that Marvel Television had not instigated the development of the spin-off and were focusing on making "the best 13 episodes of Daredevil season two" at the time, but did say, "I’m never going to discourage a network from looking at one of our characters and encouraging us to do more....If we are lucky enough that through the writing, through the direction, through the actor that people want to see more of that person, terrific." In April 2016, Marvel and Netflix ordered The Punisher, along with confirming Bernthal's involvement and naming Steve Lightfoot as showrunner. Filming began in Brooklyn, New York in October 2016. The series is set to be released in 2017.

Woll reprises her role as Karen Page.

Marvel's Cloak & Dagger

Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson, two teenagers from different backgrounds, acquire superpowers while forming a romantic relationship. They soon realize that their powers work better when they are together, "but their feelings for each other make their already complicated world even more challenging."

In April 2016, the ABC-owned network Freeform announced a straight-to-series order for Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, based on the characters of the same name, calling it their "first venture into the Marvel Cinematic Universe", and describing the show as a "superhero love story". In January 2017, Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph were cast as Tandy Bowen / Dagger and Tyrone Johnson / Cloak, respectively. Filming began in New Orleans in February 2017. The first season is set to air in 2018, with Joe Pokaski serving as showrunner for the series.

Recurring cast and characters

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Critical response

With the release of the second season of Daredevil, Brian Lowery of Variety felt the Netflix series "have already leapfrogged ABC’s forays into the Marvel universe in terms of their appeal, in part by tapping into the avid fan base that supports pay models and doesn’t need to be spoon-fed plot points. In the process, they have demonstrated that it’s possible to deliver a credible superhero show without a lot of pyrotechnics".

After the release of the first season of Luke Cage, The Atlantic's David Sims wrote on the pacing issue of Marvel's Netflix series, a common complaint to that point, stating, "After two seasons of Daredevil, one of Jessica Jones, and now one of Luke Cage, the Netflix model feels fundamentally flawed, encouraging the kind of molasses-slow plotting comic books are designed to eschew. The problem isn’t that these shows are bad, necessarily... But they all take far too long to get going, by which point many viewers will have already tuned out." He felt one of the problems was the fact that Netflix does not rely on viewers tuning into a particular series as broadcast series do each week, but rather subscribers who, if they lose interest, "can take as long as they want to catch up... as long as they keep paying their subscription fee every month." The Netflix series are also afforded the opportunity to explore elements in more detail, with Sims noting "A lot of this detail [is] good, but it could have been considerably compressed—none of the Marvel Netflix series, so far, would have lost much by being squeezed into 10 episodes, or even 8. If Netflix shaved the 60-minute running time down quite a bit, it would likely inspire more economical—and better—storytelling from its shows." Sims concluded by saying, "What’s most frustrating of all is that Netflix isn’t getting rid of this approach anytime soon. Daredevil season three, Jessica Jones season two, Iron Fist, and The Punisher are all on their way, and each will follow the same 13-episode structure... The only respite may come in the form of The Defenders, a planned crossover series... over the course of just eight episodes. Who knows? The show might even surprise viewers and explain its villain’s motivations within the first hour. Until then, fans will be stuck needlessly giving over entire days to these series, while others are deterred from watching at all." In her review for the first season of Iron Fist, Allison Keene of Collider.com spoke more on the pacing of Marvel's Netflix series, stating, "By focusing so intently on making these series... much more grounded in a gritty real world than what we typically expect from a superhero show (like DC's candy-colored [Arrowverse] on The CW), the problem is that they miss out on the key element: this should be fantastical entertainment."

Marvel's Damage Control

The show follows the overworked, underpaid, clean up crew of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who specialize in dealing with the aftermath of superhero conflicts, rescheduling events because of the conflicts, and retrieving lost items.

In October 2015, ABC ordered a put pilot for a half-hour live-action comedy series Marvel's Damage Control, based on the comics construction company of the same name. The series is being developed by Ben Karlin for ABC Studios and Marvel Television, with Karlin also writing the script for the project and serving as executive producer. In January 2016, ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee said Damage Control was "going to be coming out this season," seemingly implying it would air in the 2016–17 television season.

Other

Marvel has been working with screenwriter John Ridley since mid-April 2015 to craft a new television series, "reinventing" an existing Marvel character or property. In January 2016, Ridley confirmed that the project was "still in development". He stated that he was looking to "bring some of the socially conscious nature" of Jessica Jones and his series American Crime to the show, while also creating something that is "straight entertainment". A year later, Channing Dungey revealed that Ridley's project was still progressing, with Ridley working on a rewrite of his script. Ridley added that the rewrite was not because "anything didn't work the first time around", but rather trying to make sure the series does something viewers have not necessarily seen before in a superhero television series, hoping it would occupy "a space that is not currently being filled" by Marvel. He also stated that he hoped to create the series "in the near term."

In January 2016, Lee announced that ABC Studios was developing a second comedy series with Marvel in hope it would air on ABC, while Netflix CCO Ted Sarandos stated that "all the characters in the universe could also spin out" into their own series at some point. In May 2016, Dungey said that there were "a handful of projects in development", after passing on Most Wanted and canceling Agent Carter, and that Marvel and ABC were looking "at series that would be beneficial to both brands."

Marvel's Most Wanted

By April 2015, Marvel was developing a spinoff series of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The series, which was being developed by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. executive producer Jeffrey Bell and writer Paul Zbyszewski, would be based on storylines occurring at the end of the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and would receive its own pilot rather than a backdoor pilot. Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood entered into discussions to headline the potential new series as their characters Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, respectively. By May 7, 2015, when ABC announced their series renewals and cancellations, and new series pickups, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff was passed on.

In August 2015, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff series received new life as a reworked series, titled Marvel's Most Wanted, with a pilot order. Bell and Zbyszewski once again developed the series, while also serving as co-writers of the pilot, executive producers, and showrunners, with Jeph Loeb also attached as executive producer. The series would still focus on Morse and Hunter, with Palicki and Blood both attached, and was described as "a new take focusing on the same duo and their continuing adventures." In May 2016, the series was passed on by ABC once again.