10 Years Ago, Marvel Ripped a Massive Ensemble Movie Off Its Release Calendar

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has redefined what a superhero franchise can be, both by staying true to the original comics and by becoming incredibly successful at the box office. Initially, the MCU followed a familiar pattern – releasing individual movies focused on single heroes. However, Marvel Studios was secretly building something bigger, a connected universe that would revolutionize comic book films.

Following a series of individual superhero movies, viewers began to realize Marvel was building towards a large team-up film, similar to the comic books. While the first X-Men movie featured a team, the huge success of The Avengers truly opened the door for more ensemble films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, like Guardians of the Galaxy and, more recently, Thunderbolts. The MCU expanded beyond single-hero stories, incorporating crossovers in movies such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarök to create more exciting events. However, not all planned team-up movies have been made; one in particular, if completed, would have significantly changed the direction of the franchise before Marvel canceled it ten years ago.

Marvel Studios Planned To Make an Inhumans Film

The huge success of Guardians of the Galaxy allowed Marvel Studios to take more risks and adapt lesser-known comic book stories for the big screen. Following early development work starting in 2011, Marvel announced in 2014 that they were making a film based on Inhumans, a group of superpowered individuals. Originally, the Inhumans movie was planned as part of Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was scheduled to come out in November 2018.

Marvel Studios couldn’t use the X-Men or any mutant characters, so many people thought the Inhumans could be a similar group with superpowers. First appearing in the Fantastic Four comic book in December 1965, the Inhumans developed into a race with a rich history and a royal family. In the comics, they were created by the Kree, an alien race that was first introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Guardians of the Galaxy.

A movie featuring the Inhumans would have been a significant addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It could have explored complex political storylines similar to those in Game of Thrones, focusing on the royal family – Black Bolt, Medusa, Karnak, Gorgon, Crystal, Triton, and Lockjaw. Popular characters like Kamala Khan and Quake, known from the comics, could also have been included. The Inhumans’ hidden city of Attilan, often located in unusual places like the moon, would have greatly expanded the MCU’s world. When the X-Men weren’t an option, the Inhumans offered a fitting way to explore themes of prejudice and evolution.

The Inhumans Project Turned Into a Critically Panned TV Series

With the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, television shows like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter also emerged. It’s still debated whether these shows officially fit into the main MCU storyline, but around the same time, another Marvel series also debuted on ABC.

In 2015, Marvel Studios decided to cancel plans for an Inhumans movie. A major reason was disagreement between the teams making Marvel movies and TV shows. Kevin Feige, who oversaw the films, had to work with Ike Perlmutter, a former Marvel CEO with a lot of influence. Perlmutter reportedly really wanted to see an Inhumans movie made, and he would only give the go-ahead for Black Panther and Captain Marvel if Inhumans also got a theatrical release.

After Kevin Feige gained greater influence over Marvel’s movies, the studio cancelled plans for an Inhumans film. This led to…

Marvel Television tried a unique approach with its Inhumans series. They released the first two episodes in movie theaters before they aired on ABC, taking advantage of the series’ use of IMAX cameras. Unfortunately, despite the innovative idea, the show was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and audiences.

Despite having the potential to be a groundbreaking comic book TV show, Inhumans failed to deliver. Limited funding, weak writing that didn’t honor the original stories, and uninspired acting all contributed to its downfall. ABC canceled the series after just one season, making it one of Marvel’s most significant live-action missteps.

One Major Inhuman Went on to Play a Role in an MCU Film

Although ABC’s Inhumans wasn’t a successful Marvel adaptation, Marvel Studios didn’t erase it completely. When the Marvel Cinematic Universe explored the multiverse after Thanos was defeated, it opened the door to bringing in characters and storylines from outside the main continuity. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a notable example of a film that featured characters previously unconnected to the MCU.

The 2022 movie featured a team called the Illuminati, introducing their version to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This group included well-known characters like Professor X (played by Patrick Stewart), Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), a version of Captain Marvel played by Maria Rambeau, and John Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic – a role fans had long hoped to see him play.

Okay, so the Illuminati in Doctor Strange had some seriously unexpected members, but Black Bolt was the biggest surprise for me. It was cool seeing Anson Mount play him again – he was Black Bolt in that old ABC show, Inhumans. But this wasn’t quite the same version. They actually gave him a costume that was way more comic-accurate, which was a nice touch!

Scarlet Witch ultimately killed Black Bolt and the rest of the Illuminati in a violent confrontation. This appearance marked the closest the Inhumans have ever been to being fully integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel Studios Has Struggled With More Projects in Recent Years

One reason the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been so successful for Disney is that Marvel Studios consistently delivers on what fans expect.

When Disney+ launched, Marvel Studios started working on a huge number of projects, but some didn’t succeed, much like the show Inhumans. One of the most notable films canceled was Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. It was intended to star Jonathan Majors as the villain, building on his established role in other projects. However, concerns about how audiences viewed the Kang character, combined with legal issues facing the actor, led to its cancellation.

Marvel Studios eventually brought its television projects directly into the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, some series, like Nova and Strange Academy, were ultimately put on hold. While these projects might surface in the MCU later, their development is currently stalled. Other MCU projects, including Blade and Armor Wars, have also experienced significant delays and could potentially face cancellation, similar to what happened with Inhumans.

The Inhumans aren’t one of Marvel’s biggest properties, but excitement about a potential movie led to them appearing more often in comic books. While Marvel Studios could have built a successful franchise around the Inhumans, those plans never materialized. It now seems like a period of creative conflict between Kevin Feige and Isaac Perlmutter, and the Inhumans became a forgotten possibility.

It’s been a while since the Inhumans appeared in their own TV show, but Black Bolt recently showed up in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This could mean they’ll return in future Avengers movies or projects. However, because the Inhumans are similar to the X-Men mutants—and Marvel now controls the rights to the mutants—it’s uncertain whether the Inhumans will have a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.

Okay, so as a Marvel fan, I was pretty surprised when they changed Kamala Khan’s origin story in the MCU – she went from being an Inhuman to a mutant. It makes me wonder if they’re going to retcon other things to really push the X-Men into the spotlight, which honestly, might make some of the stuff they already announced feel kinda pointless.

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2025-12-04 07:41