The saga of Marvel’s attempts to get the Inhumans into the Marvel Cinematic Universe stretches back many years. After repeated rumors and teases by Vin Diesel, Inhumans finally found a slot on Marvel’s roster for November 2018. Marvel had already begun cross pollinating the Inhumans through Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; and with Guardians of the Galaxy proving the potential of Marvel’s cosmic side on the big screen, it looked like there was no stopping the Inhumans train.

The honeymoon phase ended than expected, though. As Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. became even more enveloped in the Inhumans story, rumors started swirling again suggesting that the growing divide between the movie and TV side of the MCU was making Marvel consider cancelling Inhumans. The rumors were denied, but nevertheless, the Inhumans movie was cancelled and an Inhumans show was announced for ABC with plans to play the premiere in IMAX.

Since Vin Diesel’s potential casting as Black Bolt was one of the persistent rumors (frequently propagated by Vin himself), we asked him about his opinion on the plans to move the franchise to the small screen during our interview with him at the xXx: Return of Xander Cage junket:

I have a question about The Inhumans, actually. Now, I know that’s a TV show, and you’ve been long attached to it. What are your thoughts on it now, in the process?

Vin Diesel: I think Marvel should never—I don’t think Marvel should abandon their opportunity to make a film out of it. I think it could be a huge, huge saga, and if I had more time I would go over to Marvel and have that very conversation. But I think it would be a big mistake for Marvel to abandon their ambitions or their objective or their goals of making it into a film, because it would make such a cool universe.

Vin Diesel as Groot - Guardians of the Galaxy Announcement Photo

Whether it’s out of a love for the franchise, or simply a desire to keep the opportunity of an Inhumans movie alive so he can be a part of it isn't clear, but as James Gunn recently pointed out, Vin isn’t likely to be involved without a massive pay cut if it’s on television instead of the big screen. The only possible way for that to work is if the show spins off from the Inhumans introduced in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and leaves the bigger hitters for the big screen, but it looks like that won’t be the case.

Regardless, with the success of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before it, an Inhumans show has a lot of potential on television. It's already nabbed director Roel Reiné from Black Sails (a show Total Geekall listeners have heard Screen Rant’s own Andrew Dyce rave about) to direct its first two episodes.

Diesel’s docket is jam-packed with xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Furia (a Riddick sequel), the Fast & Furious franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Infinity War, so he may not have the time to mount a campaign to save the big screen Inhumans. His involvement with Marvel as the voice of Groot will obviously continue for several more movies, though, and the Inhumans TV show appears to be in good hands, so this situation just might be the best of both worlds.

The Inhumans will be shown in IMAX theaters for two weeks starting Labor Day weekend, prior to the first episode premiering September 26, 2017 on ABC.