Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Infinity War.
The final scene of Avengers: Infinity War was quite a jolt to Marvel fans everywhere, although once the shock wore off many realized they definitely had some unanswered questions. Marvel television fans, in particular, wanted to know if their favorite shows would show the effect of Thanos' actions, and now we have an answer. Marvel's head of television Jeph Loeb set the record straight in a recent AMA, and explained how the television shows will work around the biggest event in Marvel's cinematic history:
For the most part our stories will take place BEFORE Thanos clicked his fingers. A lot of that has to do with production and when we are telling our stories vs. when the movies come out. So hang in there. I remember in the comics, one of my favorite stories was the KREE-SKRULL war... which was universal, but in X-Men, no mention. Huh. And it all worked out in the end!
Jeph Loeb's explained that most of the upcoming Marvel television programming (including Luke Cage and Iron Fist) predates Avengers: Infinity War, and explained this was due to production differences between shows and films, as well as secrets being kept in house. Loeb added that the Kree-Skrull war storyline was not one that has touched the X-Men universe due to legal rights. As the Marvel exec said, it'll all work out fine in the end, and the company is not all that worried about making sure each of their shows fits within the cliffhanger of Avengers: Infinity War.
The news that Marvel is keeping the events of Avengers: Infinity War separate from its television may not be what fans want to hear, but at least Jeph Loeb explained why the decision was vital. Additionally, many of these Marvel shows like Daredevil have their own unique plot and adventures that incorporating the events of Avengers: Infinity War would complicate. Put simply, it's much easier to say the shows all take place before Avengers: Infinity War and then having to explain why half of New York City was missing.
Jeph Loeb certainly made it seem like Marvel will continue to ignore Avengers: Infinity War in its shows, although he did make his statement ambiguous enough to leave the question open. Whether Loeb's "for the most part" was a sly way of saying a one or two shows will take place during Avengers: Infinity War or just a figure of speech is unclear, although it seems likely at this point the shows won't be referencing the mass extinction of half the universe.
Fans can cross their fingers in the meantime, however, and hope that a reference to the film pops up in Freeform's currently airing Cloak and Dagger or Netflix's upcoming Season 2 of Luke Cage. For a list of all superhero television shows on the way, be sure to visit our superhero premiere guide. Those looking to see the full gamut of what's headed to television over the next couple of months should visit our summer premiere guide.
