TV

Disney Just Announced Three New Marvel TV Shows, Plus Its First Muslim Superhero

Disney has announced new marvel shows Moon Knight, She-Hulk and Ms Marvel today at D23 Expo, introducing the MCU's first Muslim hero.

by Amanda Yeo  24 August 2019
Disney Marvel Ms Marvel

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Some misers might say that we’ve reached superhero critical mass, and that our screens could do with a rest from the superpowered, world-saving antics of Marvel’s mightiest heroes. They might say that, but I wouldn’t know, as I cannot hear anything over my high-pitched screeching.

Today at Disney’s D23 Expo, the House of Mouse revealed more information about what original Marvel content we can look forward to when its new streaming service Disney+ arrives in Australia and New Zealand on November 19.

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We already knew we were getting a few new series focused on characters who have already been introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Loki, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye will offer some consolation to fans weeping by Avengers: Endgame‘s graves.

Now it has been announced that three new Disney+ shows will introduce three new characters from Marvel’s comics to the MCU, building out its next generation of heroes.

The first new show is Moon Knight. In the comics, Moon Knight’s civilian identity is Marc Spector, a martial artist and former US marine. After an incident involving an Egyptian god, Spector was granted enhanced abilities that are dependent on the phase of the moon.

Moon Knight’s comics often deal with his mental state, as he battles with depression and dissociative identity disorder as well as criminals. It will be interesting to see how Moon Knight approaches this, particularly in comparison to how Legion dealt with similar themes.

Also announced was She-Hulk, who in the comics is Bruce Banner’s lawyer cousin Jennifer Walters. After receiving a transfusion of her cousin’s gamma-irradiated blood, Walters gained his green hue and super strength while retaining her sharp mind.

If She-Hulk blends smart legal battles with superheroic ones, this could be a lot of fun. It’s also worth noting that She-Hulk and Daredevil have also met in the courtroom more than once in the comics.

Finally, in the most exciting announcement of the three, Disney announced at D23 that Kamala Khan will finally be introduced to the MCU in Ms Marvel.

In the comics, Kamala Khan is a young Pakistani-American teenager who discovers she has Inhuman genes which allow her to stretch her limbs and grow in size. Inspired by Captain Marvel, she takes the identity of Ms Marvel and starts using her powers to protect others.

Though Ms Marvel will be be introduced on the small screen, it’s planned that in the future she will transition to the big, silver one. She will be the first Muslim superhero in the MCU’s pantheon.

We don’t have much on Moon Knight, She-Hulk or Ms Marvel aside from their logos, but the mere knowledge that I will soon see amazing stretchy girl Kamala in the MCU is gift enough.

We also got a bunch of information on other previously announced Marvel television shows:

  • Animated series What If? will feature the voices of the MCU’s stars, and explore stories such as “What if Peggy Carter became a super soldier instead of Steve Rogers?” That to me is a delightful concept, and I can’t wait to see it played out.
  • As Tom Hiddleston himself previously hinted, Loki will be six hours long.
  • The Falcon and the Winter Solider will explore both the title characters’ pasts and futures, so maybe we’ll finally see Bucky get the therapy he probably needs after 70-odd years of assassination and torture.
    • Emily VanCamp will return in The Falcon and the Winter Solider as Sharon Carter, and we will all just ignore the fact that she kissed her uncle.
    • The series will also introduce Wyatt Russell as John Walker, a villain/anti-hero known in the comics as US Agent. Yes, it sounds a bit cheesy, but so did Captain America and that turned out more than fine.
  • WandaVision is going for a blend of sit-com antics and the type of adventure we now expect from Marvel. Hopefully there won’t be a laugh track.
    • Kat Dennings is returning as Darcy Lewis in WandaVision, marking the character’s first onscreen appearance outside the Thor films.
    • Randal Park will reprise his Ant-Man and the Wasp role as Jimmy Woo. Fingers crossed we’ll eventually get the Agents of Atlas in the MCU.
    • Going full sit-com, the show will also feature a nosy neighbour played by Kathryn Hahn.

And finally, just in case you wanted to break your own heart all over again, Disney announced that Avengers: Endgame will arrive on Disney+ on December 11. Though the date referred to the film’s US release, it’s reasonable to think that Australia might receive it at the same time, give or take a day or two.