Marvel’s Rumored Disney+ Shift Is Great News for Fans of Grounded, Street-Level Heroes

Marvel Studios is changing its approach to Disney+ series, aiming for longer-lasting shows with a focus on gritty, street-level characters. According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, Marvel is drawing inspiration from Netflix’s Defenders era, prioritizing grounded heroes for TV while reserving major cosmic events for its films.

This shift was shared via Richtman’s Patreon. Earlier this year we learned that Disney is revamping the way it releases TV shows, and although interesting, it’s unclear whether this rumor has something to do with that.

Producer Brad Winderbaum explained that Marvel is moving toward a traditional TV model. “Moving forward, our priorities have shifted,” he said. “We’re making shows as shows that can exist as annual releases, more like television… We’ve gone back to a more traditional television model.”

This means crafting series designed to run multiple seasons with well-planned stories, rather than short, one-off runs. “We’re not going to make something until it’s ready and we’re not going to make something that can’t sustain many seasons,” Winderbaum added.

The change is already evident in Daredevil: Born Again. Originally planned as an 18-episode series, it’s now split into two nine-episode seasons, with the second set for 2026. This marks a first for Marvel’s Disney+ shows and shows their commitment to longer arcs. The series will also bring back Jessica Jones in its second season, with hints that other Defenders characters from Netflix’s era, like Luke Cage or Iron Fist, might appear.

Previous Marvel Disney+ shows, such as Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion, received mixed reactions. Some fans enjoyed the character focus, but others felt the stories lacked direction or follow-through.

Marvel is learning from this, aiming for shows with staying power. A key example of their experimentation was Echo, which released all five episodes at once in early 2024. Though it didn’t gain huge traction, it showed Marvel’s willingness to try new release strategies.

By focusing on street-level heroes and sustainable series, Marvel hopes to create Disney+ shows that keep fans hooked year after year. The process may slow down production, but the goal is higher-quality storytelling.

Marvel’s shift to multi-season, grounded shows feels like a smart move. The Defenders era proved street-level heroes like Daredevil resonate with fans, and longer arcs could give characters room to grow.

After some uneven Disney+ series, this focus on quality over quantity is refreshing. I’m excited for Daredevil: Born Again and curious to see which Defenders return. What do you think about Marvel’s new TV strategy? Are you hyped for more street-level stories or hoping for bigger cosmic adventures on Disney+? Share your thoughts in the comments below!