Marvel and ABC Developing New TV Series with 'American Crime' Creator

Screen Rant

By Jordan Gouveia

Published Apr 17, 2015

Marvel has tapped 'American Crime' and '12 Years a Slave' writer John Ridley to develop a new TV series for ABC.

Since The Avengers dropped in 2012, broke box office records and showed the true potential that a shared universe superhero franchise can bring to the table, Marvel has taken full advantage of their catalog and has catered to the needs of fans on both big and small screens.

Now it's being reported that Marvel will be teaming up with Oscar-winning writer/producer John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) to develop a new TV series.

EW didn't reveal many of the details regarding which character Ridley will be adapting, but the word is that the series will revolve around the reinvention of an existing Marvel superhero character or property for ABC. This quickly follows the news of Marvel and ABC developing a spinoff series to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., currently in its second season.

John Ridley Marvel TV Show — John Ridley

John Ridley is not only a great writer who has brought his talent to the big screen, he's also an executive-producer on the popular ABC drama American Crime, which has a good chance of making it to a second season if the numbers are any indication. The fact that Ridley and ABC already have a a successful show under their belt lends to the idea that venturing into another project together is a smart move. And no name is buzzing right now like Marvel.

Marvel has proven themselves to be in a league of their own in recent years. They've seamlessly blended their efforts between platforms and have created a universe that holds continuity on big and small screens alike. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was the first TV installment in 2013 and in less than two years, Marvel has produced two more shows (Agent Carter and Daredevil) to critical and fan acclaim—not to mention the upcoming A.K.A Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist Netflix series. And there is no reason to stop.

If there is anything these past years have shown, it's that Marvel can take new or niche characters and produce quality projects, ones that are tonally different from one another; just look at Daredevil, a Netflix series that showcases a much more violent superhero world. And despite not knowing which new character is being brought to the forefront, it makes more than perfect sense for new shows to continue to emerge.

Although it's not entirely impossible for Marvel to swing and miss, is seems unlikely at this stage—especially with a talented writer like Ridley. Hopefully more details are revealed in the near future, but as for what kind of series we may get: hearing that the show will revolve around an existing Marvel superhero character or property - that will be "reinvented" for ABC - may only inspire trepidation.

With Daredevil pleasing fans due in large part to its freedom from network TV format, this new series may be construed as a Marvel property being bent to fit the shape of network TV standards. In a Netflix world, it's far from a sure bet that a Punisher or Blade series finds success on ABC, for example. Oh course there are any number of characters - male AND female that could fill a weekly TV series (written by the True Crime writer, no less) - let the speculation begin on who it could be!

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