Just before the weekend, we learned the Power Rangers series intended for Disney+ wouldn’t be moving forward. The primary reason for this boiled down to budget, since Disney would’ve been on the hook to pay for all of it.
That news, plus the recent end to Wonder Man, has spawned conversations about Disney+’s original programming moving forward, particularly when it comes to live action. According to a Collider report, Disney will be “prioritizing animation” when it comes to future series built around its two biggest IPs, Star Wars and Marvel.
Collider notes Star Wars seemingly doesn’t have any live-action shows planned after Ahsoka season two (and presumably a fourth season of The Mandalorian), and the same may be true for Marvel after Daredevil: Born Again returns for season three in 2027.
Animation is cheaper to make compared to live-action shows, or at least the live-action ones for Star Wars and Marvel. Both The Acolyte and the full run of Andor were reportedly pretty costly to make, and various Marvel shows also had to be, given the effects that eventually go into them.
If Collider’s correct about Disney’s framing, it’d also help explain Marvel’s silence on TV at SDCC last month. Compared to live-action, both franchises’ futures are slightly clearer in animation: Maul—Shadow Lord is already locked in for season two, and Star Wars Visions Presents will continue adapting episodes from that anthology. Marvel has already greenlit X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man for more seasons each.
io9 has reached out to Disney for comment. We’ll have more on the future of Marvel and Star Wars on television as news emerges.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
