Major Changes in Marvel TV: "Daredevil" Creative Team Replaced

According to a report by Sina Entertainment, Marvel TV is undergoing significant changes, with the creative team behind the new series "Daredevil" being replaced after completing about half of its production.

In an exclusive report by THR, Marvel executives expressed dissatisfaction with the creative team and the content already shot for "Daredevil: Rebirth," leading to the removal of the head writer and director. They are currently in the process of seeking a new creative lineup. This is just one of the recent major changes in Marvel's TV division, as its series are undergoing substantial overhauls.

Regarding these creative changes at Marvel TV, THR's report also mentioned that "Daredevil" is not the first series to experience behind-the-scenes turmoil. "She-Hulk" and "Secret Invasion" had similar situations. Some individuals who have worked on Marvel TV content recently have noted a lack of a unified vision in the creative process, leading to conflicts and tensions. After all, "television is a writer-driven medium, while Marvel is a Marvel-driven medium."

In addition to the writers, directors working on Marvel TV projects may also feel undervalued. A source familiar with the process mentioned that the "fix it in post" attitude sometimes makes directors feel less essential.

The report highlights the troubled reputation of "Secret Invasion," which underwent a significant decline in reviews. During production, the show let go of the original writer, Kyle Bradstreet, who had been working on the script for a year, as Marvel decided to change the show's direction. New writer Brian Tucker and director Thomas Bezucha were brought in to help refine the script.

Such changes are not uncommon in Marvel's creative development process. However, in the summer of 2022, during the pre-production phase of the show in London, internal power struggles emerged. The details are not clear, but it was described as a situation where "people had disagreements and conflicts erupted" within a matter of weeks.

Marvel has a creative guidance committee referred to as the "Council," with one of its members being Marvel executive Jonathan Schwartz. He was sent to address behind-the-scenes issues with "Secret Invasion" when the show's production had fallen behind schedule, and there was a risk of losing some cast members due to scheduling conflicts.

In early September, a significant portion of the team working on the show was replaced, including Marvel executive Chris Gary, who was reassigned to oversee the project. There are reports suggesting that he is expected to leave Marvel when his contract expires at the end of this year.

On another note, Disney+ Marvel series like "Loki" became the first to secure a second season, as Marvel aims to move away from the single-season model and toward producing multi-season series. Marvel wishes to provide characters with more time to develop a deep connection with the audience, rather than merely serving as a prelude to a major event. New series such as "Echo" and "Miracleman" also prioritize personal character stories.

Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel's streaming, television, and animation division, expressed his desire for these series to make audiences truly love the characters, not just as a lead-in to expand the cinematic universe or as a prelude to a "Avengers" film.