Possibilities.
ByKristy AndersonPublished about 3 hours ago•4 min read
No more small screen Marvel? Not so fast! After the lacklustre reception to some of the more recent live-action Disney Plus MCU shows, such as Secret Invasion and Ironheart, rumours swirled that <a href="https://https://vocal.media/geeks/visionquest-a-rundown-of-the-ai-and-their-human-avatars-set-to-appear-in-the-series” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>VisionQuest, the upcoming final entry in theWandaVisiontrilogy, may also be the final multi-episode live action MCU show, with Marvel’s TV division shifting towards animation and one-off special presentations. Numerous sources suggested that this news would be officially announced at the D23 Expo, but this announcement did not occur.
Now, it seems that rather than shut down entirely, Marvel is instead taking a quality over quantity approach to TV. Recent reports have suggested that a new Disney Plus series is in development, under the codename ‘Slumber Party’. What could this mystery project really be?
Fans are considering a few possibilities.
Strange Academy
One option suggested was that the new series could be an adaptation of the Strange Academy comic series. Following the near-destruction and subsequent restoration of the Earth’s magic, Doctor Strange decides the next generation of magic users need a safe place to properly learn and practice their craft. This leads him to create the Strange Academy, a magic school in New Orleans, welcoming students from all backgrounds and multiple realms, where they receive magical instruction from some of the most talented mages in the Marvel universe.
AStrange Academyseries was rumoured to be in the pipeline a few years back. The rumours were strengthened when the Ironheart series introduced Zelma Stanton, a staff member of Strange Academyin the comics.
These plans were put on hold after Ironheart’s lukewarm fan reception, but some fans believe the series is now back on the table. The upcoming incident with Doctor Doom could inspire Doctor Strange to prepare the next generation, and a Strange Academy series could provide the perfect place for world building cameos. The Strange Academy comics regularly featured characters like the Scarlet Witch, Agatha Harkness, or the X-Men’s Magik as guest instructors.
As well as Zelma, a Strange Academy series could work as a reintroduction for Jennifer Kale, the sole survivor of Agatha’s Covenin Agatha All Along. Jen ended Agatha All Along newly unbound and ready to re-embrace what it meant to be a witch. Spreading knowledge to a new generation could work for that quite well.
Young Avengers/Champions
Though it may seem hard to believe, there was a time, following the ‘Avengers Disassembled’ storyline, that the Avengers, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, were rendered temporarily defunct. A team of teenage heroes with connections to the previous team rise to try and fill the void.
The original team line-up included Iron Lad, Patriot, Stature (Cassie Lang), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hulkling, Wiccan, and Speed. Kid Loki and America Chavez have also been on the roster. Over time, the Young Avengers aged out of the ‘Young’ title, with most spread out through the Marvel Universe doing their own thing.
Eventually, Marvel wanted a new youth team, and they found the opportunity following the Civil War II event. Disillusioned with the older heroes behaviour during the event, Ms. Marvel leads some of her teen hero peers in striking out on their own, eventually dubbing their new team the Champions.
For years, rumours have swirled of a Young Avengers project in the pipeline. These rumours intensified following the ending scene of The Marvels, in which Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), tries to recruit Kate Bishop for a new team. However, it seems more likely that the eventual team will be an amalgamation of the Young Avengers and Champions line ups. Over the course of the Multiverse Saga, the MCU has slowly built the right collection of characters to make such a merged team possible.
Recent rumours suggest that VisionQuest, which will introduce Ruaridh Mollica as a teenage Tommy Maximoff/Thomas Shepherd, aka the hero Speed, could lay the groundwork for an adaptation of the comic story Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, and that this could be the ‘Slumber Party’ project.
The above two possibilities have been the most commonly diuscussed, as Slumber Parties are an event often associated with teenagers. However, some fans have expressed hope for at least one other option.
Midnight Suns
The Midnight Suns are a team that has existed on-and-off through the history of Marvel Comics. Initially a group of supernatural warriors who come together to battle Lilith, the Mother of Demons, the ‘supernatural’ requirement has been relaxed over the years. Past incarnations of the team have included Doctor Strange, Wong, Moon Knight, and Blade, while one more recent line up featured Agatha Harkness.
As with Young Avengers, there have been recurring rumours of a Midnight Suns project in development for Marvel Studios. A common theory has proposed the project would be a TV series or Marvel Spotlight presentation with Wong at the centre of proceedings, assembling a team to deal with a problem during a time when Strange is unavailable. Fans have theorised that an MCU Midnight Suns line-up could include characters like Moon Knight, Daredevil, and Iron Fist, or even surprise fan favourites such as Man-Thing, the Werewolf-By-Night, and Jennifer Kale.
Whichever project it turns out to be, fans are sure to be keeping an eye out for more news as ‘Slumber Party’ moves down the development pipeline.
About the Creator
Kristy Anderson
Passionate About all things Entertainment!
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