Justin Lubin/ABCFrom series writer Paul Zbyszewski.
On the eve of Netflix kicking off its Marvel franchise, ABC has another superhero trick up its sleeve.
The network is teaming with Marvel to develop an Agents of SHIELD spinoff, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
As first reported by EW, the potential spinoff hails from SHIELD exec producer Jeffrey Bell (Angel, The X-Files) and series writer Paul Zbyszewski (Lost).
The concept remains under wraps but it is not expected to be a back-door pilot and air as a stand-alone episode of the flagship series the way series including Criminal Minds and Chicago Fire have done this season with their respective spinoff plans. Despite not having a planted episode this season, the concept for the SHIELD spinoff should become clear based on plot elements to come in the back half of its sophomore season.
The potential spinoff could be for either fall or midseason and, like SHIELD's third-season renewal, depends on how the rest of ABC's pilots turn out.
Marvel and ABC declined comment on the spinoff.
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For ABC, a SHIELD spinoff would mark the next step in its Marvel franchise that this season featured female-driven bubble series Agent Carter. It also arrives as Netflix plans to drop Daredevil season one on Friday, kicking off the first of four series and mini The Defenders.
While Marvel hasn't been a particularly strong player for ABC — SHIELD is averaging 7.4 million total viewers and a 2.8 among the key adults 18-49 demo — it's an important franchise for parent company Disney as DC Comics fare has become for Warner Bros. Television with multiple a potential superhero team-up in the works at The CW featuring characters from Arrow and The Flash.
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Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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