When Marvel’s Most Wanted was announced as being in development back in 2016, most trades were certain the series would be picked up by the network, ABC. However, that didn’t happen and now Marvel Television executive Jeph Loeb is explaining why fans have yet to even be able to see the pilot that was filmed.
While most pilots typically don’t air if a network passes them over, many fans hoped that Marvel and ABC would figure out a way to air the pilot for Marvel’s Most Wanted, a spin-off from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., whether by airing it as part of the latter or as one-time special. Neither happened, of course, and after ABC ultimately decided to pass on the pilot it became clear that the Adrianne Palicki’s Mockingbird-led series would not see the light of day. And the reasoning behind the decision is simple enough, according to Loeb, as it’s ABC that has the power to release the pilot — not Marvel.
RELATED: Fans Petition ABC to Release “Marvel’s Most Wanted” Pilot
Ahead of the premiere of Cloak & Dagger last night, Loeb held an AMA — ask me anything — session on Reddit where a fan asked if there was a chance that fans would eventually get to see the pilot for Most Wanted. Unfortunately for fans, judging by Loeb’s answer, chances appear to be rather slim for the time being as ABC holds the power to air the pilot.
Most Wanted came at a time when ABC was in the midst of changing over leadership. While previous network president, Paul Lee, championed Marvel’s shows on the network, and is thought to be the reason why Agent Carter went on to get a second season, Channing Dungey was brought in to take the network forward — and, hopefully, help ABC to regain its viewership. With that in mind, the decision to pass on Most Wanted wasn’t unsurprising, as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is going on its sixth season, and has continued to lose viewership throughout the years.
RELATED: ABC President Reveals Why “Marvel’s Most Wanted” Didn’t Work Out
It’s an unfortunate position, especially as Adrianne Palicki (Mockingbird) and Nick Blood (Lance Hunter) proved to be fan-favorites in their short-lived time on S.H.I.E.L.D.. If ABC didn’t respond when fans petitioned to release the pilot back in 2016, it’s highly unlikely the network will decide to do so nearly two years later.