Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney Plus Series/Special ranked by my level of excitement
- Sam Tarter
- Jan 11, 2021
- 18 min read
Updated: Feb 9, 2021
This Friday, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will make its long delayed return, but not on the massive movie screen that we are so used to. Yes, after multiple delays of feature films and setbacks in production schedule, Marvel Studios’ WandaVision will not only be the first MCU proper production to kick off 2021 and Phase Four of the MCU, but it will also be the very first Marvel Disney Plus series to debut.
Alas, the pressure and risk of failure for this new era of the MCU seem to be lessened, as ahead of even a single episode of WandaVision debuting, Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have confirmed a whopping 13 projects to debut on the new streaming platform, ranging from never-before-seen animated scenarios, writer/director passion projects, and essential expansions into the unexplored corners of the Marvel Universe. With almost every project being a favorite character of mine, or possibly depicting an extremely intriguing idea or concept, I thought it fitting to rank each upcoming Disney Plus series/special by my personal level of excitement and anticipation.
13: Ironheart
Described as “Coming soon to Disney Plus, actress Dominique Thorne is genius inventor Riri Williams in Ironheart, an Original Series about the creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man,” Ironheart is expected to debut sometime in 2023.
In all honesty, I have no negative or positive feelings towards this upcoming show, with the exception of this character’s possible appearance in an upcoming “Young Avengers” project. I have never read any comics featuring this character, and from what I have heard through the grapevine, she has not been very well written or been depicted as very interesting. I'm hoping that Ironheart will not come off as a Miles Morales ripoff, and I pray that she will not tarnish the legacy and sacrifice of Tony Stark aka Iron Man (which could very well happen, as this show is expected to debut less than four years after that characters’ death).
But who knows, I could be totally wrong and be blown away by this limited series. If Marvel does it right, Riri aka Ironheart may very well become the next Shuri, Peter Parker, or hopefully, pave her own path as a teenage superhero, and break out of the shadow of the armored avengers who’ve come before her.
12: I am Groot
Described as “Everyone’s favorite little tree, Baby Groot, will star in a series of shorts on Disney Plus featuring several new and unusual characters,” I am Groot is expected to debut in 2023.
It’s gonna be really hard to mess this up. A short form series about one of the MCU’s funniest and most favorite characters, taking place in the period between Guardians Vol. 2 and Infinity War, and exploring and introducing new and unique cosmic characters: what more could you ask for in an easy going MCU show? And yet, its accessibility and lack of importance is also why I’m not asking for this show (at least not right now). If the show doesn’t take the easy way out, fans may be blessed to gain more knowledge on weird and absurd characters like Howard the Duck, Cosmo the SpaceDog, Uatu the Watcher, or maybe a new incarnation of the Inhumans. If we are lucky it will be exactly what we need at the time, or maybe it will be a forgettable inclusion in MCU canon. But either way, the idea itself is asking for enjoyment, and I’m hoping for the best.
11: Secret Invasion
Kevin Feige announced the series as “bringing the biggest comic book crossover event to Disney plus, about a sect of shapeshifting skrulls who have infiltrated every level of life on earth” and will star Samuel L. Jackson once again as Nick Fury, and Ben Mendehlson returns as the Skrull leader Talos from Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Interesting concept? Absolutely, but I am so very worried about the execution. While I have not yet read the comic series, I am extremely excited to see just how these shapeshifting aliens invade not only society, but the superhero world. Yes, there is the possibility for Avengers and vigilantes of the past and present to be revealed as Skrulls (whether they were double agents from the beginning, or sleeper agents who don’t yet know they are Skrulls). But in all honesty, this series feels like it will be one lengthy setup for an eventual Avengers movie that deals with the Secret Invasion storyline (Feige did confirm this series will be connected to future films). I am so excited to see where Marvel will take this storyline and how it will be integrated into a massive and reality-altering crossover, but a spy series that sets up the threat and lessens the amount of exposition for future films doesn’t seem like Marvel is putting their best foot forward. But maybe my mind will change once more is revealed, and maybe a lengthy and dedicated backstory is what the next big crossover event will need.
10: She-Hulk
While the series was announced late 2019, fans were finally given confirmations and elaborations on the much anticipated series, as Kevin Feige described it as “a very funny series about a woman trying to be taken seriously as a working professional, despite the fact that she is well over 6’7 and green. Tatiana Maslany will portray Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk and Tim Roth returns as the Abomination from 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk.” The Hulk himself, Mark Ruffalo, will appear in the series, and it will be directed by Kat Coiro and Anu Valia.
Sadly, I have not yet read any She-Hulk centric comics, but it seems like they are abandoning some of the more appealing aspects of her for comedy. Part of the reason why she has worked so well in the appearances I’ve seen her in is that she is the bridge between the superhero world and the legal one. Her cases defending street level crimes all the way up to Avengers level threats are compelling and impactful, and taking them all on while being seen as a so called “freak of nature” (all while balancing being a hero in her own right) is what makes this mature and gritty character so incredible.
But I keep hearing comedy, and it's like nails on a chalkboard to me. I don’t want this series to be toned down and played for laughs, when the MCU could very well have the next “Daredevil” or “Black Panther” on their hands when it comes to embracing real world issues. But nevertheless, an all star cast and a team of great writers and directors still makes me hopeful, and as Kevin Feige heavily teased, the “superhero oriented legal cases” that She-Hulk takes part in could mean the appearance or return of anyone in the MCU, making for amazing cameos and even better storylines (fingers crossed for the return of Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil from the Netflix series!)
9: Ms. Marvel
Following the unusually rapid success of the comic book serious, the MCU is bringing the superior mantle of the Captain Marvel name to the small screen with the new series Ms. Marvel. Newcomer Iman Vellani will star as the title character, Khamala Khan, as she is joined by many other unknown actors to tell a relatable, human story about looking up to your heroines, and being an icon for a new generation.
I absolutely love the Khamala Khan character. Whether it be in her own solo comic series, a team-up event, or the new Avengers video game, she has always been a fun, relatable, and empowering character that most anyone can get behind. Not only is she a great example of diversity and the first major Muslim superhero, but she is also one of the very first fanboys (or in this case fangirl) to be turned into a superhero. Part of the joy of watching her save lives and be a hero is knowing that she has learned, studied, and been inspired by the very best, and you just can’t help but geek out with her when she saves a life or stops the bad guy.
However, the first footage released on Disney Investor Day is giving off very big Disney Channel vibes, and I’m hoping thats simply due to rough footage being released and no special effects shots, along with a slew of unknown and child actors. Likewise, the screenwriters and directors don’t have the best resumes, so there are some chances this could turn into the next “Runaways”, when it should really be the next “Ramy.”
But from what has been announced so far, and from the set photos released online, there seems to be a lot of passion, dedication, and love being put into this show, and the higherups at Marvel have full faith in Iman Vellani as the title character (so much so that she will be featured in the upcoming Captain Marvel 2). Either way, my Disney Plus account will certainly be queued up for this shows premiere when it (hopefully) debuts later this year.
8: The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The Guardians + Christmas + James Gunn writing and directing + Christmas music on Star-Lord’s zune… what more could you ask for?
Seriously though, this is such a great idea it doesn’t even require explanation! Think about all the possibilities: Star-Lord having to explain the idea of Christmas to his alien counter parts in hilarious fashion; Rocket pranking his family members with rancid christmas cookies; Nebula opening up to the team about how she never got gifts as a daughter of Thanos, and how much this means to her; Mantis using her “empath abilities” to put everyone in a cheerful mood; and Drax taking things far too literally when it comes to gift giving!
The possibilities are so prolific, its insane. Sure, its unnecessary and could easily be an ABC special. But the fact that it is true MCU canon and will be given the budget of a Disney Plus project means that the Marvel executives must like what they seen, and are deciding to take another risk like they did with the original Guardians film. Either way, I can’t wait to see all the festive decorations strung up along the interior of the Guardians’ spaceship, and watch them share in whatever the Alien version of eggnog is while exchanging gifts, listening to old Christmas classics, and sharing in the love that makes them such a wonderful dysfunctional family.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will film in between upcoming production and filming of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, with the full cast, crew, and sets/location returning (and hopefully an appearance by Chris Hemsworth’s Thor). It is expected to debut the Christmas before Vol. 3’s premiere in summer 2023, so look out for the Holiday Special to debut Christmas, 2022.
7: Armor Wars
One of the more unexpected announcements from Marvel was the return of Don Cheadle “as James Rhodes aka War Machine in Armor Wars, an Original Series coming to Disney Plus. A classic Marvel story about Tony Stark’s worst fear coming true: what happens when his tech falls into the wrong hands?”
I have wanted War Machine to take center stage ever since the MCU started back in 2008. Many do not know, but there was once a full fledged “War Machine” movie in development with a screenwriter and cast and everything, but it was soon scrapped as it did not fit in that part of the MCU’s plan and goals moving forward. Furthermore, I was disappointed in how he was used in future movies, especially in Endgame, where he did next to nothing. But finally, Don Cheadle will put his incredible acting skills and comedic timing to good use, when he becomes the main hero, and not just the sidekick or backup, in “Armor Wars”.
Not only am I absolutely thrilled at the idea of one of the more underappreciated heroes getting development and screen time, but this series will also be a great opportunity to tie up the loose ends of the Iron Man trilogy. It is very likely that we will see the return of many older Iron Man models (the OG Iron Patriot suit coming back?) being taken over by crime lords and syndicates, or if Marvel plays their cards right, they can bring back the most underrated and underused villain in their catalog: Sam Rockwell as arms dealer and military manufacturer Justin Hammer.
While it isn’t the most groundbreaking or ambitious project in their catalog, “Armor Wars” is setting up to be a strong continuation of the War Machine character, and an emphasis on the importance of Tony Stark's legacy, parts good and bad.
6: Moon Knight
Described by Marvel president Kevin Feige as an Indiana Jones-inspired action-adventure that will bring a whole new and different vibe to the MCU, “Moon Knight will feature a complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities who live inside him are distinct characters who appear against a backdrop of Egyptian iconography,” Moon Knight is expected to hit Disney Plus in 2022.
Talk about ambitious! This is the project that will finally break the mold. We will finally get to (hopefully) see a dark, gritty, down to earth and truly humane story in the MCU. If all goes well, Moon Knight will be the jumping off point for a new exploration of the Marvel Universe, and will be what Daredevil was for Netflix, and what Split was for M. Night Shyamalan’s career.
While it certainly won’t be as dark and gritty as 2019’s Joker, there is still certainly possibility for a street-level exploration of the Marvel world, and a dedicated, realistic character study and depiction of mental illness. Forget the Egyptian desert adventures or the mystical abilities, I am most excited about seeing what businessman and DID victim Marc Spector will bring to the idea of being a “hero”... especially if his “secret identity” is simply another one of his many identities created in his fractured mind. And if rumors are correct, the incredible Oscar Isaac will be cast in the title role, making this series a true showstopper in the making.
5: WandaVision
The first MCU series to debut on Disney Plus, “WandaVision blends the style of classic sitcoms with the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany)—two super-powered beings living their ideal suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems…” The series will also feature the appearance of Kathryn Hahn as Wanda’s nosey neighbor Agnes, Teyonah Parris as a grown-up version of Monica Rambeau from Captain Marvel, along with the return of Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis from the Thor franchise, and comedy icon Randall Park as (now S.W.O.R.D.) Agent Jimmy Woo from Ant-Man and the Wasp. WandaVision debuts this Friday, January 15th, 2021.
Initial reactions for the first three episodes of this series called it “super risky”, “delightfully trippy”, “brilliant” and “extremely intriguing”, and I couldn’t be happier. I won’t get into theories or predictions, but this is going to crack open the doors to the Multiverse of the MCU, and I’m so glad this is the series that gets to do it.
Wanda’s abilities are insane, beautiful, extremely powerful, and most importantly: dangerous. Her ability to shape and recreate reality to her will is not only a great way to explore her ideal life and fantasies, but it will also be super interesting to seem them be performed visually and see just what she is fully capable of. Whatever pocket universe she has created will not only be a joy to see, but it will be a perfect tease for what she will unlock in the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Furthermore, a sitcom style of storytelling and television (atleast for the initial setup of the series) is extremely ambitious and creative. I’m not sure who came up with the idea for this style, but whoever you are I applaud your effort. This easily could be a miniseries about Wanda grieving over the loss of Vision following the events of Endgame, leading into her mental deterioration and destruction of the Multiverse for future MCU projects, but the Marvel team decided to go full steam ahead into the weird and wonderful use of her powers, and take full advantage of the series name. For instance, the name WandaVision is in reference to Wanda and the Vision, Wanda’s “vision” or ideal life that she creates for herself, and Wanda-vision like television, of which this series will surely play off of and give respect to the history and legacy of.
Lastly, I think its really awesome and quite touching that Marvel’s first steps into the television/streaming route of storytelling will honor the legacy of sitcoms and its unique and lengthy history throughout American popculture. Whether its diving into and taking inspiration from deep cuts like Bewitched and The Brady Bunch, filming in the old style of special effects (like wire lifts, shaky cuts, and old fashioned aspect ratios), or simply being bold, crazy, and absolutely ambitious, the hype for this series is at an all time high, and I’m counting down the days until its premiere this Friday.
4: What If?
The Marvel Cinematic Multiverse is sure to break barriers and expand the possibilities of the future of the Marvel movies, but first, the Multiverse will be used as a storytelling tool to look back on the lengthy adventures of Marvel’s first set of movies, The Infinity Saga, by looking back at very similar events of the movies, but with a twist. What If…? will feature Jeffrey Wright as Uatu the Watcher, who will act as a guide for the audience “through these vast new realities, where you will dare to face the unknown, and ponder the question, what if…?
Not much is known about the little tweaks and subtle changes that will cause a change in history for each episode, but we do know that each episode (throughout the first two seasons atleast) will focus on one of the 23 movies from The Infinity Saga, and that the first episode will focus on Captain America: The First Avenger, and the title/catalyst of the episode will be “What if Peggy Carter got the super soldier serum?” Other implied or confirmed topics will be a Black Panther/Guardians of the Galaxy hybrid episode that will be entitled “What if T’Challa became Star-Lord?”, a Marvel Zombies episode in which many of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes become Earth’s Mightiest Undead (in which Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier will fight a Zombified Captain America), an episode where Hawkeye goes rogue and kills Thor during the events of the first Thor, and an episode focusing on the Doctor Strange film where Stephen Strange will fight an evil version of himself (think Bizarro Superman from DC Comics).
But as I said before, the possibilities are endless: a fan-favorite episode that people are rooting for is an Endgame-centric episode that focuses on “What if Thanos snapped the other half out of the universe?”; more insane prompts could be “What if Loki won the Battle of New York?”, in which we see a much darker, dystopian ending of the first Avengers movie, “What if Captain America ‘died’ instead of Bucky?” and therefore became The Winter Soldier, “What if Captain America and Iron Man switched sides?” in Civil War, or “What if Killmonger was raised in Wakanda?” for Black Panther.
What is also breaking barriers in this new series is that it will be Marvel’s first journey into animation, which so far has been showcased as an old school, cell-shaded design that looks like it was ripped right out a comic book brought to life (very similar to Into the Spider-Verse’s animation style). With animation on their side, Marvel will have no boundaries and no limits to explore the vast Multiverse at their disposal, and with a second season already in the works, I’m certain that the MCU will have an excellent anthology series on the way to not only expand their future franchises and characters, but to celebrate the legacy of their films so far.
3: Hawkeye
After debuting in 2011’s Thor, the long awaited solo-project for the most underutilized and underrated original Avenger will finally be released! “Jeremy Renner returns to star as the title character in Hawkeye, teaming up with well-known archer from Marvel comics, Kate Bishop played by the amazing Hailee Steinfeld” who is expected to take up the mantle of the world’s mightiest marksman. “Additional cast include Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee and newcomer Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez with episodes directed by Rhys Thomas and directing duo Bert and Bertie. Hawkeye, an Original Series, is coming to Disney Plus in late 2021.”
I have been waiting for Hawkeye to take the spotlight for so long, its feels overdue. Alas, like the upcoming Black Widow movie, I’ll take overdue than nothing at all.
Also like his best friend and fellow spy-Avenger’s solo project, both Black Widow and Hawkeye will showcase the OG Avengers passing the torch and stepping down from the mantle of their superhero personas, and while Florence Pugh will certainly be a great new Black Widow, I know for a fact that Hailee Steinfeld is going to absolutely crush it as Kate Bishop. A character from the comics who showcases spunk, wit, flamboyance and a whole lot of bad-assery, Kate Bishop is the perfect new addition to a more youthful era of the MCU, and if her character will lead the eventual Young Avengers team, we are in for a treat.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed via set photos that Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye will lose his hearing and require hearing aids like in the comics. This is very exctiting, as not only will he be one of the first cases of disability representation in superhero medium, but this indicates that he will also go through a similar arc like he did in the comics: his greatest asset and ability being taken from him, while also having his superhero mantle and significance stripped away to make way for a better hero. It has been hinted at before in previous Avengers films, but it can be hard to find your place and power as an every man in a world of Gods, supersoldiers, and high teched billionaires. As we like to see in superhero content, relatability is key, and Clint Barton truly becoming an “everyday hero” while handing the bow and quiver to a fan-favorite character is something I can’t wait to explore and experience when his long-awaited solo adventure debuts later this year.
2: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Once again diving into the espionage-thriller genre and exploring the underground, street level crimes of the MCU, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will follow the events of Avengers: Endgame, in which Sam Wilson aka The Falcon (and the worthy successor of the Captain America mantle) and Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier “will team up in a global adventure that will test their abilities, and their patience” in which they will team up with old allies and enemies to discover and honor the complicated legacy of the Captain America mantle, shield, and the significance that comes with that. Emily VanCamp and Daniel Brühl will return from Captain America: Civil War as Sharon Carter aka Agent 13 and Helmut Zemo, respectively, and Wyatt Russel will debut as John Walker aka U.S. Agent, a government chosen replacement for Captain America whose allegiance and morals are not as expected.
Most people who know me know that my all-time favorite movie (not just Marvel movie) is 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I love the gritty, political thriller and spy/espionage movie that the Russo Brothers created, and I still have vivid memories of watching it in the theater for the first time with my older sister. After the first Avengers movie, that was the film that really got me into my love and adoration for the MCU, as it proved to me that “superhero movie” wasn’t one single genre, it could be anything it wanted to be—comedy, horror, thriller, heist—and I believe it was the one-two punch of Winter Soldier and the first Guardians that proved to the higher ups at Marvel that they could do anything and everything with their movies, paving the way for what the future holds.
So yes, these two characters especially (who debuted in Winter Soldier) have a very special place in my heart, and with this and the upcoming Black Widow movie finally returning the MCU to the spy genre, I am so excited for what this series will hold. It has been described as a 6-hour long epic split up into individual episodes, and I’m sure that once the series ends we will be gifted with a bold, fun, and fresh addition to some of the best parts of the MCU.
Furthermore, I applaud the creators of this series for going bold and taking time between Sam Wilson being adorned with the shield and fully taking up the Captain America mantle. It’s a very strong choice to stop, take a breather, and dive into Sam Wilson’s psyche, discovering how he feels about all this responsibility and importance of being given the mantle of an A-Tier superhero. It’s also very empowering of Marvel to give the mantle to Falcon, and not the Winter Soldier; seeing an African-American man take up the mantle of my second favorite Marvel hero was one of my favorite parts of Endgame, and knowing that this show will discover that—and the repercussions of that decision and how this fictional government will try to prevent it–is another reason why I just can’t wait for this series and how it will fully flesh out two of my favorite Marvel heroes.
1: Loki
“Come on… what did you expect?” — Loki
Another series to stem out of Endgame, the upcoming sci-fi comedy series Loki will feature the newly “resurrected” God of MIschief (the evil 2012 Avengers version who escaped into an alternate timeline after stealing and teleporting away with The Tesseract) once again played by Tom Hiddleston travelling with the Time Variance Authority, a time travelling agency trying to fix any aberrations and mistakes in the timeline, of which Loki very much is one. Starting out as their prisoner and later becoming their ally, this bitter and still very much villain worthy Loki must aid the TVA as they hop across history, time, space, and the Multiverse to stop a threat that only he can deal with. Written by the man behind Rick and Morty, Mike Waldron, and featuring a stellar cast including Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sasha Lane, Sophia Di Martino, Richard E. Grant, and Jaimie Alexander returning as Lady Sif from the Thor franchise, Loki will debut in May 2021.
Call me a sucker for a good villain story, but this is the series I’m most excited about. Loki has always been my favorite villain of the MCU besides Thanos, and after his redemption and sacrifice in Endgame, I’m absolutely ecstatic that they are using the Multiverse to bring him back in a fresh and exciting way. This series is sure to give us a lengthy, invested dive into what really makes Loki tick as a villain, a menace, and the God of Mischief. Not only will we see Tom Hiddleston chew up every script and scenery he is given once again, but it is rumored we will see multiple versions of Loki including a female Loki, a Kid Loki (think Five from The Umbrella Academy of a middle aged man in a child’s body), a Loki who is worthy of wielding Thor’s Hammer, and a classic “silver age comic book” version of Loki who is older, wiser, and more experienced (rumored to be portrayed by Richard E. Grant).
But like the other Multiverse show, What If…?, Loki is expected to be full of possibilities including altering Marvel history, expanding the past and future of what we have seen or are expecting to come, Loki being the reason for many urban legends and conspiracy theories (look up the D.B. Cooper incident and the Polybius arcade game), and Loki even becoming President (yeah thats not a joke… look that one up too). Once again, this is a Marvel series that has already been confirmed to have a second season, so I’m sure that the cast and crew will give us a fantastic, hilarious, Guardians and Ragnarok-esque space adventure with a mix of Multiverse and history lessons, and will give me more time with my favorite villain and my favorite film franchise. I’m excited for all of these, but I’m especially excited for Loki.
My calendar is marked… what about yours?
Comments