The Unforgettable Marvel Catastrophe Haunting the MCU even after 6 Years!
Marvel's disastrous TV series, The Inhumans, continues to haunt the Marvel Cinematic Universe six years later, as it remains a colossal failure that has forced Marvel Studios to sever ties with the Inhumans and restrict their integration into future movies
Summary
Marvel's biggest TV bomb was the series Inhumans, and its failure continues to negatively impact the MCU, leading to Marvel Studios distancing itself from Marvel Television.
The Inhumans received criticism for lacking creativity, featuring uninteresting and uninspiring characters, and having inferior visual effects and overall design in comparison to other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions.
Due to Marvel's opposition to incorporating Inhumans into the MCU, iconic comic book characters such as Kamala Khan will not be portrayed as Inhumans, and it seems improbable that the Multiverse Saga will include any other Inhuman characters. Black Bolt's demise signifies the conclusion of the Inhumans' presence in the MCU.
Most Marvel projects over the past decade have been successful, but there is one TV series that stands as a historic failure, still affecting the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU started its journey on the big screen with Iron Man in 2008, gradually expanding its reach to television and streaming platforms. However, Marvel faced challenges when bringing its characters to TV, experiencing some failures along the way. One series, in particular, continues to have repercussions on this interconnected universe years after its disastrous run.
Before Marvel officially ventured into TV series on Disney+ with WandaVision, they made attempts to expand through shows airing on ABC, Netflix, and Hulu. Of these, the biggest failure came from the ABC batch - the series Inhumans. Despite its promising concept and intriguing characters, Inhumans turned out to be a major disappointment, leaving a lasting negative impact on the MCU.
Marvel Studios Is Blocking Movies From Connecting To The Inhumans
Marvel's previous TV projects struggled with failures, causing Inhumans to be largely forgotten by the audience amidst a sea of flops. However, the negative impact of this forgotten show continues to affect the MCU and its various branches. In their book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, authors Dave Gonzales and Joanna Robinson reveal that Marvel Studios has made significant efforts to distance itself from Marvel Television. This defunct branch was responsible for all Marvel TV shows prior to WandaVision, including Netflix's Marvel shows, Legion, The Gifted, and M.O.D.O.K.
Marvel's attempts to move forward are particularly focused on severing ties with Inhumans more than any other TV shows. According to Gonzales and Robinson, during the development of Eternals, the production team received instructions to avoid setting any parts of the story in Hawaii, where Inhumans mostly took place. In Inhumans, the Inhuman Royal Family seeks refuge in Hawaii after a military takeover, attempting to save themselves and the world. Including scenes in Hawaii in Eternals would have risked reminding viewers of Inhumans and potentially prompting them to search for connections between the failed TV show and the current MCU.
Why The Inhumans Was Such A Huge Flop For Marvel
It should be mentioned that the cautionary measures regarding the avoidance of any association with the Inhumans and its possible ties to the series do not appear to be excessively stringent. This is evidenced by the return of Black Bolt (Anson Mount), albeit fleetingly. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a different iteration of Black Bolt originating from an alternate reality where he was affiliated with the Illuminati was introduced. Regrettably, Scarlet Witch executed him in a most gruesome manner. It's important to note that this particular incarnation of Black Bolt had no significant correlation to the television series and is currently inactive, therefore not establishing a direct connection to the notorious TV show.
The Inhumans failed to meet expectations, drawing criticism from both critics and viewers. Many labeled the series as "unimaginative" and faulted it for its lack of originality within the MCU. The show suffered further due to its unimpressive and uninteresting characters. Despite being Inhumans, the team failed to develop likable characters and an engaging story that could contribute to the broader MCU. Instead, it felt like a lazy melodrama that didn't fit seamlessly into the MCU universe.
What Marvel's Anti-Inhuman Guidelines Means For The MCU
Inhumans faced significant criticism for its visual effects and overall design, which appeared cheap, especially when compared to the high standards set by the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These shortcomings were particularly glaring due to Marvel's decision to release Inhumans in IMAX theaters, which aimed to generate buzz and promote the series but ultimately backfired as the IMAX format accentuated the visual flaws even further. Consequently, Inhumans was abruptly canceled after airing just one season comprising of eight episodes.
If Marvel wanted to distance themselves as much as possible from the Inhumans when developing Eternals, it's highly probable that they will continue to do so. Some supporters of the Inhumans hope that they will have another chance in the MCU, much like what's happening with the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, but it appears unlikely. This means that characters who are Inhumans in the comics, like Kamala Khan, won't be portrayed as such in the MCU (instead, Kamala has been reimagined as a mutant). It's also improbable that any other Inhuman variants will be included in the remaining films of the Multiverse Saga, so the death of Black Bolt in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness can be seen as the definitive end of the Inhumans in the MCU.
Source: MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios.
