Marvel’s Biggest TV Flop

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Ever since Marvel Studios started dominating the film and TV landscape, there hasn’t been a project as overlooked as the Inhumans one. Originally planned as a movie, the eight-episode series struggled on television, falling flat in its attempt to introduce one of Marvel Comics’ most peculiar families. Despite Anson Mount’s portrayal of Black Bolt in the second Doctor Strange film, the prospects of the Inhumans in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seem slimmer than another Eternals sequel.

Prior to the integration, MCU enthusiasts might struggle to recall a period when Marvel Studios and Marvel Television were distinct entities. Kevin Feige primarily concentrated on the cinematic aspect of Marvel Comics, while Jeph Loeb spearheaded the television team. Shows such as “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, “Agent Carter”, and the Netflix series centered around “The Defenders” aimed to sync with MCU films, but the reciprocation was lacking. The closest approximation of collaboration was Marvel’s “Inhumans”. Initially slated as the 20th MCU film, it eventually premiered on ABC as a limited series instead. The intention behind this project, announced in 2014, was for the Inhumans to seamlessly integrate into the MCU while also establishing their own spin-off franchise. However, due to dissatisfaction with the film script, Marvel Entertainment (under the leadership of Feige’s corporate adversary, Ike Perlmutter) accelerated the property for television.

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Initially, the collaborative film universe encountered some rough patches, but under Kevin Feige’s guidance, it transformed into an indomitable force. One of the 15 projects that Feige had planned following the first Avengers movie was the Inhumans film, which was set to debut in Phase Three.

The movie’s script originated from a Marvel Studios program designed to nurture upcoming writers. Initially, Joe Robert Cole’s screenplay didn’t meet Feige’s expectations, but he later penned both Black Panther and its sequel. Due to scheduling changes, Inhumans was taken off the film slate, and Perlmutter handed it over to Loeb for TV series development as these characters were intended as a substitute for mutants.

The idea of Inhumans was initially introduced through the TV series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which surprisingly thrived in exploring their secretive society. Characters from the comics, existing since 1965, inhabited a city on the Moon named Attilan, making the foundation laid by the show less relevant for the series. Nonetheless, Inhumans appeared ready to become Marvel Television’s most significant event yet. ABC collaborated with IMAX, and the first two episodes were shot using cinematic cameras, intended for cinema debut. Sadly, critical feedback was unfavorable, and the box office revenue of $3.5 million fell drastically short.

Despite having only eight episodes, the series became too complex to manage, which might account for the struggle in securing a feature film script. The program boasted 20 primary and recurring characters, most residing in Attilan and bearing fantasy names such as Karnak, Triton, Rynda, among others. Bringing their powers to life through visual effects on a television budget was challenging. The most famous and emblematic character from the Inhumans comics was notably underused, maintaining a somewhat cartoonish appearance that contrasted sharply with the show’s overly serious narrative tone.

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In evaluating the final product, it’s just as crucial to understand the events happening off-camera as those that appear on-screen. Kevin Feige’s disagreements were primarily directed at Ike Perlmutter and Marvel Entertainment, rather than his counterpart, Jeph Loeb.

Feige was passionate about the characters, the tales, and creating stories that span generations. On the other hand, Perlmutter focused solely on financial matters, not just earnings or toy sales, but rather pinching pennies in production costs. As the producers aimed to turn Marvel’s Inhumans into the MCU’s version of a space-set Game of Thrones, they had to do so on a budget comparable to that of Xena: Warrior Princess.

Due to certain restrictions, the storytellers had to separate members of the Inhuman royal family and devise strategies to weaken them. The most severe act was shaving off Medusa’s hair, her power source. Perhaps due to budget constraints or a lack of conviction, characters such as Black Bolt were not portrayed in their signature outfits.

The “hero” outfits in the series often failed to match the grandeur suggested by its narrative, and the scenes where they wore everyday clothing diminished the otherworldly vibe essential for the royal family drama to thrive. The sets of Attilan seemed sparse, which gave an impression of cost-cutting measures rather than a deliberate design choice. However, these shortcomings were significant only because the series lacked the self-aware humor that shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or The CW’s Arrowverse exhibited.

Despite some challenges with the show’s pacing, the cast delivers commendable performances. Anson Mount, in particular, excels as Black Bolt, managing to avoid any unintentional silliness in his portrayal. His performance in Marvel’s Inhumans makes it evident why director Kevin Feige chose to feature him again, this time in a comic-accurate costume for the Illuminati scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

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Together with Black Bolt from Mount, Iwan Rheon (known for his role in Game of Thrones) also contributed significantly. However, a challenge that both Marvel Television and Marvel Studios face is the tendency to squander their villains by not utilizing them effectively in their series.

If some actors from the cast of Marvel’s Inhumans are seeking a chance to redeem their characters in the MCU similar to how Trevor Slattery did, they might appear in Avengers: Secret Wars as alternate versions of their characters. Regrettably, their ends could mirror Black Bolt’s when Wanda made her entrance.

The show demonstrates that the characters and their relationships are intricately woven, more so than the Eternals. Consequently, though they might not fit within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they represent a set of characters that could thrive in an adaptation open to embracing a visual style aligned with its atmosphere. In other words, an Inhumans series boasting elaborate production design on par with other fantasy series or films would be well-suited, provided it has the financial backing to portray them as the eccentric, powerful beings they are in the comics.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) grows larger, fans of Marvel find themselves yearning for content previously provided by Marvel Television. They were instrumental in creating series such as “Legion” and “The Gifted”, as well as shows connected to the MCU. There’s a certain appeal in stories that can unfold independently with their own distinct narrative arcs.

It’s more effective for the Inhumans to shine if they are the sole super-powered entities in the world. Their characters hold promise for an engaging adaptation; however, given the dismal performance of their previous series, it seems challenging for Marvel Studios or Disney to justify the substantial effort required to portray them effectively again.

At the moment, you can stream Marvel’s Inhumans on Disney+, alongside other titles from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel Television shows.

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2025-06-06 17:21