Last August, it was reported that ABC was giving its Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff, Marvel’s Most Wanted, another go. Fast forward to several weeks ago, and it was officially announced that Marvel’s Most Wanted had earned a pilot order. Until recently, the only actors officially connected to the project were Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood as Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, respectively. Now a third player has been added, with Malcolm X actor Delroy Lindo being cast as longtime Marvel adventurer Dominic Fortune.
Created by Howard Chaykin, Fortune made his comic book debut in 1975’s Marvel Preview #2 as a classic, globe-trotting troublemaker eager to find wealth. Although no details were provided about the MCU’s Fortune, presumably he’ll also have the adventuring genes inside him, as well. The only plot details revealed about Marvel’s Most Wanted so far is that the project will follow Bobbi and Lance as they go on their own adventures, so it’s unclear if this version of Fortune will be connected with S.H.I.E.L.D. or will operate solo.
While the majority of Marvel’s characters have only been operating in the “present day,” Fortune is more like Captain America, in that his original adventures are firmly rooted in the early 20th century. Originally named Duvid "David" Fortunov, most of his adventures occurred from the 1930s-1950s, where he tangled with mobsters, war criminals and classic supervillains. Eventually he retired and started a family, and his son Jerry even took the Dominic Fortune moniker, though he was tragically killed not long after. In his elderly years, Fortune ingested a flawed version of the Super Soldier Serum that de-aged him a few decades, allowing him to still be active in the modern era.
Lindo’s notable roles include playing West Indian Archie in Malcolm X, Bo Catlett in Get Shorty and Roland Castlebeck in Gone in 60 Seconds. His TV credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Chicago Code and Believe, and he most recently appeared as a series regular on ABC’s Blood and Oil. Should it get ordered to series, Marvel’s Most Wanted will be ABC’s third Marvel drama, following Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter. However, this is far from the network’s last attempt at expanding the MCU. Other upcoming Marvel projects at ABC include Damage Control, a superhero series being penned by 12 Years a Slave scribe John Ridley and another comedy series.
We’ll keep you apprised on any new details surrounding Marvel’s Most Wanted’s development, but if all goes according to plan, viewers should be able to catch it next fall.
