Hulu's upcoming Marvel TV series, Runaways, lives in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but it remains to be seen how it's all connected. The MCU originally kicked off in 2008's Iron Man and only included films until the superhero-focused world expanded to TV in 2013 with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC. The television side of the MCU has since grown exponentially with S.H.I.E.L.D. entering its fifth season this year - after ABC debuts the Inhumans miniseries. Plus, Netflix is set to debut its fifth and sixth Marvel series this year (The Defenders and The Punisher, respectively) while a number of other shows are in development at Freeform and Hulu.

Marvel's Runaways is one such show currently in development at Hulu, with the streaming service set to debut the adaptation of writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona's comic series later this year. Although filming on the pilot wrapped earlier this year, and season 1 resumed production last month, Hulu has yet to officially release a full-length trailer - though a teaser for Runaways did surface earlier this year. However, the streaming company did preview their upcoming venture into the MCU at this summer's Television Critics Association press tour.

During the Hulu presentation, Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb confirmed Runaways "lives in the same world" as Marvel's Netflix series, which means it takes place within the MCU. As reported by The Wrap, Loeb said:

It all lives in the same world, how it’s connected and where it’s connected and what it’s going to be connected to remains to be seen. What we’re trying to do now is tell a great story.

Of course, Loeb has been touting the "It's all connected" line ever since Marvel TV launched the television side of the MCU with S.H.I.E.L.D. - though those connections were largely one-way in that the show would feature tie-in episodes with the Marvel movies, but the films have yet to acknowledge any of the TV shows. However, Runaways may not reference too many of the MCU's more prominent superheroes, as Loeb went on to explain:

Since it’s all connected through social media and it’s all connected in its own way, would you be following Iron Man or would you be following someone your own age? The fact that they’ve found each other and they’re going through this mystery together at the moment is what we’re concerned about, not what Captain America is doing.

Marvel fans are sure to be excited by the confirmation that Runaways exists in the MCU, but may be disappointed by the fact that the show likely won't reference the rest of the sprawling superhero world. That said, as Loeb's comments indicated, showrunners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are more focused on telling a good story than in connecting the characters to the rest of the MCU. Thankfully, for those fans excited to see Marvel's Runaways come to life, they'll be able to stream the upcoming series this fall.

Next: Runaways Is ‘The O.C. of the Marvel Universe’

Runaways debuts on Hulu on November 21, 2017.

Source: The Wrap