It’s an interesting time to be a Marvel fan. The future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of unknowns, with projects constantly evolving and release timelines shifting more than ever before. While the studio once was known for its forward-looking planning, the waters have become more murky post-Avengers: Endgame.
Many projects have stalled with some being pushed back years from their originally slated releases and others being canceled before coming to fruition. Then there are the titles that remain in an ongoing limbo with no clear direction or plan in place for the characters’ future within the MCU.
One project that had been in active development for years was a Strange Academy series intended for Disney+. Although Marvel never officially announced the project, the show was said to be centered around the magical school founded by Doctor Strange in New Orleans where young sorcerers studied the ancient art of magic. In the comics, the school brings together characters from all walks of life including humans, Asgardians, demons, and various other mythical creatures, following the young sorcerers as they work to master their unique abilities all while dealing with the typical challenges students face.
The Strange Academy series was expected to introduce a wave of new characters into the MCU, while also featuring existing characters such as Benedict Wong’s Wong and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. It was one of the most anticipated projects in development until February 2025, when Marvel ceased further development on the show.
Thankfully, it seems Marvel has had a change of heart.
Strange Academy is back in active development
Months after Deadline broke the news that Marvel Studios had halted development of Strange Academy, trusted Marvel source Daniel Richtman is reporting that the series is back in development. According to Richtman, the series is officially back in active development at Marvel Studios and the search is underway for a writer to lead the series.
No further details were provided, but it seems that Marvel is perhaps looking to take the show in a different direction than originally planned. Before development was ceased on the show, Marvel had tapped Echo’s Amy Rardin to lead the project; however, if the studio is searching for a writer, it seems Rardin will no longer be taking the lead on writing the project.
While it is exciting to know that Strange Academy is back in development, it’s important to keep in mind that Marvel has still yet to officially greenlight the project. This means that there is a chance the series could stall once again and fail to make it to series. That’s not to say there aren’t good odds the show will happen, it’s just important to keep in mind that Marvel’s lineup is in a state of flux.
Finding a writer for the project is the first major hurdle to overcome, but then the hardest test comes in crafting a story that Marvel Studios feels confident will resonate with audiences and fit naturally into the broader MCU game plan. The Blade film is a perfect example. Despite being announced as in development in 2019, Blade remains in development and has encountered several setbacks that have prevented the film from reaching the finish line.
Hopefully, Strange Academy will find a writer and get past the development stage once and for all as the show is one that has a lot of potential to explore an untapped realm of storytelling within the MCU.