Marvel launches a new animation franchise, Marvel Rising, focused on its younger fan favorites
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a real treat for fans of Marvel Comics’ iconic heavy hitters; if you’re looking to hang out with Spidey, Cap, or Big Green, look no further than the MCU. It’s been a little more sparse, though, for the devoted followers of the company’s newer crop of characters; when we’re still months out from even catching a glimpse of Carol “Captain Marvel” Danvers on the silver screen, characters like fan-favorites Ms. Marvel or Squirrel Girl just aren’t going to make the cut.
That’s about to change, though, with Deadline reporting that Marvel Studios has announced a new animated franchise, titled Marvel Rising, that will focus on the company’s younger heroes. Characters in the new mini-universe include Spider-Gwen (now dubbed Ghost Spider), Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Patriot, Quake, and more.
The current plan is to launch Marvel Rising with a few shorts focused on Ghost Spider (Cameron Dove), before diving right into a full-length Secret Warriors feature. It doesn’t sound like the series will share any continuity with the mainstream MCU, but it will feature some of the same talent; Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Chloe Bennet will voice the younger version of her character, Daisy “Quake” Johnson, while her co-star Ming-Na Wen will play the movie’s villain. (Meanwhile, Milana Vayntrub, who’s been cast as Squirrel Girl for the still up-in-the-air live action New Warriors show, will also reprise her role.)
Marvel hasn’t set any distribution deals for the film, although this feels like it would be a slam-dunk for Netflix, which already has a comfy relationship with the company thanks to its Defenders sub-franchise of shows, and which is always looking for more kids’ and teen-focused content to gobble up. (Meanwhile, fans of animated Marvel heroes who don’t want to wait for Marvel Rising to rise will have to content themselves with Avengers Assemble and Guardians Of The Galaxy, both still airing on DisneyXD.)