Hulu is getting into business with Marvel. The streaming service has ordered a pilot for “Marvel’s Runaways” from “Gossip Girl” creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Though Hulu has not greenlit the project to series at this point, sources say Hulu ordered a full season script, in addition to the pilot.
“Marvel’s Runways” is a younger-skewing superhero story, centering around a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are in an evil crime organization. Schwartz and Savage will co-write and serve as show runners, which will follow six diverse teens who can’t stand each other, but must unite against a common foe — their parents. The “Runaways” comic book series, on which the potential Hulu show is based, was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona.
“I’m a long-time fan of ‘Runaways’ and couldn’t be more excited to bring Brian and Adrian’s characters to life,” said Schwartz. Savage added, “Josh and I can’t wait to get to work for Marvel and Hulu.”
Marvel Television and ABC Signature will co-produce “Marvel’s Runaways,” which was first reported by Deadline. By way of their Fake Empire shingle, Schwartz and Savage are under an overall deal at ABC Studios where Marvel is also based. The duo will exec produce, alongside Marvel’s head of TV Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory. Fake Empire’s Lis Rowinski will serve as a producer.
“We’ve known the ‘Runaways’ story would make great television and being lucky enough to have Josh and Stephanie — who have time and again created shows that speak so genuinely to this exact audience — write and produce the series is nothing short of remarkable,” Loeb commented.
“Runaways” marks the first Marvel property for Hulu. Marvel, however, has had much streaming success with Netflix’s “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones,” and the upcoming “Luke Cage,” “Iron Fist,” “The Punisher” and “The Defenders.”
For Schwartz and Savage, the teen series is right in their wheelhouse, as the pair were behind two of the most successful teen dramas of all time: “Gossip Girl” and “The O.C.” For Marvel, “Runaways” marks the second teen-centric property to go to television, following the young superhero love story “Cloak and Dagger,” which was recently greenlit at Freeform.
