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Last week, we learned that ABC had brokered an unprecedented deal to bring Marvel’s ‘The Inhumans’ to both the small and the very big screen.  Before premiering on ABC in the fall, the first two episodes will be shot on IMAX cameras and released on over 1,ooo IMAX screen in 74 countries.  The shows will run in theaters for two weeks, following Labor Day 2017.

For years, plans were in place to include a movie based on ‘The Inhumans’ in Marvel Studios’ film franchise.  ABC even began exploring the world of these super powered beings on its TV show ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’  But after Marvel Studios (who make the movies) broke away from Marvel Entertainment (the shows), Marvel Studios slowly scrapped their ‘Inhumans’ movie plans.

Disney-ABC Television Group president Ben Sherwood expressed:

“We think this is a quadruple win — a win for Imax, a win for Marvel, a win for ABC Studios and a win for ABC to launch a show in an innovative way and get attention.”

Indeed, ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ has only ever been seen as a tenuous add-on to the super successful films and therefore has never been a huge ratings hit.  Perhaps releasing the first two episodes of ‘The Inhumans’ in theaters will create a sense that this show has a stronger movie connection.

As part of the deal, which IMAX initiated, IMAX is financing the first two episodes, so fans should expect something huge.  In addition to the first two episodes, some scenes in subsequent episodes (most likely action sequences) will also be filmed with IMAX cameras, with an eye on later screening these episodes in theaters.  The theaters recently held a week-long ‘Game of Thrones’ event which apparently went well.  It is believed this event would arrive in late summer during a time when fewer big budget action movies open in the larger format.

This appears to be its own entity.  It was stressed that ‘Inhumans’ was not a spinoff from ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, which is still, at least ostensibly, set within the film universe.  It was also stated that Marvel Studios’ ‘Inhumans’ movie may still happen.  Does that mean this project takes place in its own reality?  If so, the question becomes will fans care?

It might make sense to distance itself from ‘Agents’ which is sort of only on the air so that it can hit 100 episodes and be syndicated.  As stated, it’s an expensive show to produce and it’s never been a ratings hit.  But by doing so, does that also separate ‘Inhumans’ from the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

What do you think?  Are you looking forward to this ‘Inhumans’ event?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter