Marvel’s New Warriors was in development as a show from ABC Signature Studios, but it never went anywhere – and one star of the unaired pilot isn’t sure if we’ll ever see it.
Keith David was cast in New Warriors as Ernest Vigman a (seemingly) original character who was to serve as the antagonist of the first episode, and likely a role that would expand to last the entire series role. But that episode was filmed back in 2017, with some additional photography done in 2018… And there’s been no word on the series since then, aside from some occasional comments from Marvel TV chief Jeph Loeb that it will be released eventually.
Speaking to ComicBook.com, Keith David’s keeping his expectations more tempered than his (possibly former) boss at Marvel TV, but he’s hopeful that they’ll figure something out eventually:
“In this business, one never knows. I would hope that at some point it would come back. Everybody seemed to like it and loved the idea. Who knows why it hasn’t come to fruition yet.”
As Keith David suggests, the New Warriors pilot was reportedly very well-received by Disney’s top brass, but for whatever reason, none of the company’s networks or streaming services were interested in picking it up for a full season, and its development coincided with many changes that were going on as Disney acquired Fox’s entertainment assets. Had the series been produced, it would have been made in a half-hour comedy format that utilized mockumentary elements akin to shows like The Office and Modern Family. The pilot was written by intended showrunner Kevin Biegel, and revolved around a set of young superheroes that want to make a positive change to the world – even if they’re still trying to figure out how.
As of now, Disney’s Marvel focus appears to be shifting away from the efforts of Jeph Loeb – whose shows will still have a presence on both Hulu and Disney+ – and toward Disney+ shows produced by Marvel Studios themselves, which will directly connect to the movies. Perhaps Disney+ may end up being the home to the series after all, as it seems like it was further along in development than the likes of ABC’s cancelled series Marvel’s Most Wanted.
Development on New Warriors currently appears to be dormant at Marvel. Aside from Keith David, the pilot starred Milana Vayntrub as Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl), Derek Theler as Craig Hollis (Mister Immortal), Jeremy Tardy as Dwayne Taylor (Night Thrasher), Calum Worthy as Robbie Baldwin (Speedball), Matthew Moy as Zach Smith (Microbe), and Kate Comer as Deborah Fields (Debrii).
Source: ComicBook.com