The Marvel Cinematic Universe recently kicked off Phase 3 with the premiere of Captain America: Civil War, which joined a lengthy list of superhero films in the universe as well as a number of television series split between ABC and Netflix. On Netflix, The Defenders universe launched in 2015 with Daredevil, followed by Jessica Jones, and will continue to grow to include Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Punisher series. Additionally, the MCU is expanding to fellow Disney-owned network Freeform (formerly ABC Family) where a series based on Cloak & Dagger is in the works.

On ABC, the network is wrapping up season 3 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is already confirmed for season 4, and had a number of other series in the works including Marvel's Most Wanted, Damage Control, an untitled Marvel comedy, and a series developed by John Ridley. However, now it seems Most Wanted won't be continuing on past the pilot stages.

THR is reporting ABC has passed over the Marvel's Most Wanted pilot, which was ordered earlier this year. The series would have starred Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood as their Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters Bobbi Morse a.k.a. Mockingbird and Lance Hunter, respectively. Additionally, they were joined in the pilot by Delroy Lindo who was cast as Dominic Fortune, Fernanda Andrade as his niece Christina Santos, and Oded Fehr in an unspecified role.

Agents of SHIELD Marvel's Most Wanted Mockingbird Lance Hunter ABC Pilot

This report arrives on the heels of Agent Carter's cancellation by ABC, and rumors that Marvel's Most Wanted was close to a series order. With no pilots for Damage Control, the second Marvel comedy, and the John Ridley project, that leaves the network with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as its only Marvel TV series heading into the Fall 2016 season. However, there is still time for one of these series to be developed as a midseason relief show for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4 - or for ABC to take a second look at Marvel's Most Wanted.

At this point it's unclear why ABC passed on Most Wanted. Certainly, since the recent boom in popularity of comic book and superhero properties, there are plenty of shows based on such characters on a variety of networks and streaming services. For instance, TNT officially pulled the plug on its long in-development Teen Titans series, citing the abundance of superhero properties as a reason for the decision. However, still more networks are tapping into comic book properties; Syfy recently ordered a pilot for the DC Comics-based series Krypton and AMC is poised to debut Preacher, based on the series published by DC's Vertigo imprint.

Still, it remains to be seen if Marvel's Most Wanted is done for good - following the initial rumors of the Mockingbird spinoff, there were reports that it wouldn't be moving forward, but ABC did eventually order a pilot for the series. So, it's possible ABC could revisit the project at a later time. But, if Marvel's Most Wanted is, in fact, not moving forward, it remains to be seen what happens with Bobbi and Hunter within the MCU - last we left their characters on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it seemed they were out of the spy game for good, but in a world with flying iron suits and super soldiers, circumstances could always change.

Next: A Chronological History of The Marvel Cinematic Universe

We’ll bring you more information on Marvel's Most Wanted as it becomes available.

Source: THR