Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may only be the beginning for Marvel Studios’ television plans. In addition to persistent rumors that the studio is developing a show centering around Captain America: The First Avenger supporting character Sharon Carter, a new report from Deadline says that the company is shopping a package of four drama series and an additional miniseries to shop around cable channels and video-on-demand companies, including Netflix and Amazon.
According to the report, various unnamed providers have shown interest in the package despite the size of the commitment necessary — 60 episodes in total, presumably split between four 13-episode series and an additional eight-episode mini-series, as opposed to a more traditional commitment of 13-20 episodes at a time.
In theory, there’s a lot about this rumor that makes sense from Marvel’s perspective. Not only would an upfront, guaranteed-episode deal remove the worry caused by tumbling ratings — Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. lost 38 percent of its audience between the first and second episodes — but alternate content delivery systems may also be looking more attractive. The third episode of S.H.I.E.L.D. gained 52 percent more viewers when DVR views within a week of broadcast were factored in, and signs point to DVR-based viewing only growing in popularity over time.
The benefit for the companies bidding on the package is slightly more mixed, however. While it would allow them to advantage of the popularity of the Marvel brand, the falling ratings and critical grumbling about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have demonstrated that no brand is invulnerable, particularly when it branches outside of its established areas of success.
There’s also the issue of timing. Right now, Marvel is a hot property, but these shows wouldn’t be available to debut until mid-to-late 2014 at the earliest. What if Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Guardians of the Galaxy flop at the box office in the meantime — or the many DC Entertainment-produced shows currently in development (Batman spin-off Gotham at Fox, Constantine at NBC and The Flash at the CW, in addition to the currently-airing Arrow) simply overwhelm demand for superhero properties on TV?
Even with the considerable strength of Disney behind it, the package as reported by Deadline might be a gamble for whoever ends up buying it. If Marvel’s considerable success at the box office continues and the gamble pays off, however, an instant portfolio of Marvel projects could be a very lucrative thing indeed.
Marvel Studios declined to comment to WIRED on this subject.
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