Marvel Studios are further planting their feet in cable television with upcoming series Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger and making waves in the process. Though formerly focused on feature films, Deadline reports that Marvel Studios has teamed up with Freeform to find leads for the upcoming series based on comics by Bill Mantlo and Ed Hannigan.
The heroes, Tyrone Johnson (Cloak) and Tandy Bowen (Dagger) will be portrayed by Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt respectively. Holt is a former Disney Channel regular from series such as I Didn’t Do It and Disney XD’s Kickin’ It while Joseph is coming off a role on HBO’s crime-thriller The Night Of. The series will chronicle the superhero origins and careers of its eponymous characters. In the comics, Cloak is a somewhat insecure teen from a harsh background set on redeeming himself from near total loss who happens to have the ability to engulf others in total darkness. Dagger is an affluent runaway who can create and throw projectiles made of pure light. The characters’ superpowers highlight their distinct differences while establishing the power achievable from a co-mingling of light and darkness.
No coming-of-age series would be complete without the aspect of romance, something which Freeform and Marvel plan to highlight throughout the series. Tyrone and Tandy will be involved romantically. With two characters who are meant to be foils of one another, ABC Studios and Marvel are setting a bar for inter-protagonist conflict.
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger has been in the works for nearly five years, since the days Freeform was ABC Family. Executive producer Jeph Loeb has expressed pure joy at finding leads for the long-overdue series. “Marvel is delighted to have found our Cloak and Dagger. Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph encompass the true essence of the characters and we are excited for the audience to see them in these roles.” Showrunner Joe Pokaski expanded on the decision. “The characters of Tandy and Tyrone have always stood out to me ever since I first met them in the pages of Marvel comics when I was a boy. When Olivia and Aubrey read for the roles, these characters leapt off the page. We’re so excited to see what these talented young actors bring to the Marvel Universe.”
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger joins Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the second Marvel Studios series on ABC programing. Upcoming series The Inhumans will join the two in further expanding the already massive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the small screen. Audiences can expect very impressive special effect work based on the titular characters’ powers as well as plenty of running drama from their hesitant relationship.
Check back for more information about release dates and further casting notices.