Marvel quietly cancels a Disney Plus show nobody expected, reports say

Marvel Studios has reportedly been doing some spring cleaning. After a questionable year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe all around in 2023 (which saw two movies underperform and a Disney Plus series receive highly negative reviews), the studio is slowing things down, reflecting on its Multiverse Saga thus far and attempting to figure out ways to ensure that it can be more consistent and coherent.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has been recommending that they focus on more bankable franchises within the MCU, spotlighting characters they know will bring in the box office and streaming numbers. Unfortunately, this means less risks will be taken but it also suggests that there could come a time when Marvel bounces back that it can hopefully revisit those ideas. '

Sadly, recent reports suggest that the studio has been scrapping a number of projects, both on the film and TV front, with one particular scoop referencing a project that was only ever rumored to be in development.

Monica Rambeau series reportedly cancelled by Marvel

According to Marvel insider Daniel Richtman, Marvel had been developing a Disney Plus series focused on Monica Rambeau, a.k.a. Photon, but it was "axed" after the reception to The Marvels. While the film was received quite well by audiences, the response was generally more lukewarm when compared to the first Captain Marvel movie; its biggest issue, however, was its significant underperformance at the box office, as it became the first MCU movie to outright flop, grossing $206 million against a budget of $274 million. Richtman, however, acknowledges that the character's story will continue in another project.

Monica made her MCU debut in Captain Marvel when she was introduced as the daughter of Maria Rambeau (the best friend of Carol Danvers). Teyonah Parris took over the role in WandaVision, when she attempted to help Wanda Maximoff through her grief and stop the corrupt agent Tyler Hayward from harming her. In doing so, she developed powers (as she successfully walked through Wanda's Hex), becoming Photon. She then reunited with Captain Marvel and met Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan, in The Marvels as the trio teamed up to take on an intergalactic threat.

The idea of Monica getting her own series is intriguing. It would have been interesting to see where her arc would have gone given that the post-credits scene of The Marvels saw her trapped in an alternate dimension with that earth's version of the X-Men. But that right there is why her story needs to continue, whether that be in her own show or another one. After all, Marvel doesn't really do loose ends, and considering Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel promised that they would find their friend and ally, it has to happen at some point.

The apparent cancellation of the unannounced show comes after reports of Marvel changing its output and re-evaluating which titles it was going to proceed with. With reports of Captain Marvel 3, Ant-Man 4, and Eternals 2 all being cancelled, it appears that the studio is also looking at shifting up its TV releases, placing the focus on bringing back some of its Disney Plus shows for second seasons. But for every rumor about Hawkeye season 2 and Moon Knight season 2 being certainties, there are also rumors that She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and maybe even the Okoye series being cancelled. It appears that the Photon series could be among the latter group too.

As always, it's important to take any rumor with a grain of salt until otherwise confirmed by Marvel themselves. Nevertheless, it's a disappointing report given how great the show could have been.

Monica is one of the most interesting characters that got the spotlight in Phases Four and Five of the MCU, and now she's involved in perhaps the Multiverse Saga's most crucial storyline; it wouldn't make sense to not further her story at some point. Here's hoping that when they do, the character still gets the spotlight she deserves.