Marvel announcedplans to produce standalone TV seriesof about 6-8 episodes featuring well-known characters from the MCU for Disney’s streaming service. If you’re picturing Danny Rand justfranticallyresponding to a “new phone, who dis” text, you’re not far off; these new series are completely different from Netflix’s already established Marvel Universe, with MCU paterfamiliasKevin Feigetaking a hands-on role and each series reportedly getting budgets to rival a big-screen studio project. Reports already indicate plans for a Scarlet Witch series starringElizabeth Olsenand a Loki show withTom Hiddlestonreprising his trickster god role. These ideas are both well and good, I want to know the origins of Wanda Maximoff’s mysterious disappearing accent as much as the next person. But this news has got our Infinity Stones a-blazin', and the possibilities are endless.
Here are 5 MCU characters who deserve their own standalone series.
Peggy Carter
Yes, I know Agent Peggy Carter already got her own standalone series, just as much as I know that ABC did the show dirty with two seasons and a mere 18 episodes. WithAgent Carterlost to the cosmos, actual human treasureHayley Atwellis being wasted in the MCU, only showing up inBenjamin Buttonmake-up to die in front of Captain America or show up in his dreams any time Steve Rogers is conflicted about making out with Peggy’s great-niece (It’s weird, Steve!). Give a full-onAgent Carterseries some major period-setting funding and fill the badass spy series hole left byThe Americanswith superheroes and Hydra lasers.
We first meetTessa ThompsoninThor: Ragnarokyears after her formative time spent in the all-female Norse battle-squad known as the Valkyries. But the glimpses we do see in flashback are intriguing enough to carry a show through several seasons. Hell, bring backCate Blanchettas, well, Hela, the series' Big Bad, and giveGame of Thrones' fantasy warfare a run for its money on winged horseback. (Anddon’t be afraid of bisexuality, ya billion-dollar cowards.)
Speaking ofThor: Ragnarok! What in the name of Midgard happened to Korg? The last we saw of the Kronan warrior he was aboard the Grandmaster’s party ship en route to Earth, which was blasted to all hell by Thanos at the outset ofAvengers: Infinity War. Where is Korg? A series following the continued adventures ofTaikia Waititi’s soft-voiced rockman—plus his Sakaaran pal Miek, who is very much alive—is the planet-hopping buddy adventure missing from the MCU. Heck, give Waititi the director’s chair. Bring inJemaine Clementas a Frost Giant. Get weird with it.
Blindly throw a dart at the cast list ofBlack Pantherand you’ll hit someone worthy of a standalone series—M’Baku (Winston Duke) giving tours of his various fur closets could carry at least three seasons—butLetitia Wright’s Shuri was by far the breakout character of 2018. I’m picturing a Marvel-ized mashup ofDoctor Who’s love of gadgets and gizmos, and a version ofThe Big Bang Theory’s brainy wit that isn’t terrible.
Bruce Banner, an OG Avenger, has never quite got his due on the big screen.Eric Bana’s perfectly fine 2003 interpretation was marred byAng Lee’s strange vision,The Incredible Hulkwas so forgettable it’s onlytechnicallypart of the MCU, andMark Ruffalo’s superior portrayal has been relegated to a supporting player in other hero’s movies. Banner is a character that lends itself to long-form episodic storytelling because his battle is as much inward as it is outward. A Hulk TV series could be the MCU’sMr. Robot, except replace late-careerChristianSlaterwith massive green rage-monster who only gets stronger the angrier he gets. (So like, early-career Christian Slater.)
But seriously, of all the core six players from the originalAvengers, The Hulk is both the most intriguing on a storytelling level and the least explored. Plus, even if Ruffalo isn’t available, just set the series in the past and castTo All the Boys I Loved BeforestarNoah Centineoand not a single person would notice.
Honorable Mention: Lockjaw
How would Marvel produce an entire series following the massive, mutant bulldog named Lockjaw, the sole bright spot of ABC’s million-dollar garbage fireInhumans? Hard to say. But I do know for an objective scientific fact that A) Lockjaw’s inner thoughts should be voiced byJohn Goodmanand B)Lockjawon Disney’s streaming service would win at least a dozen Emmys. Quote me.
