Disney is set to announce later this morning two new additions to the offerings of its Marvel Universe programming block on the Disney XD channel. Following in the footsteps of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, which ended its run in November, will be Marvel’s Avengers Assemble. Also arriving will be a brand-new concept, based around a sort of Hulk family, called Marvel’s Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., which might sound a bit silly if it didn’t have some terrific talent involved.
Previewing with a one-hour special on Sunday, May 26, and premiering in its regular spot on Sunday, July 7, Avengers Assemble sees Disney/Marvel returning the Avengers to the team from last year’s blockbuster movie (Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow), with one addition: Falcon. (I’m assuming the addition was largely for the purpose of adding diversity, but I think he could be an interesting addition to the team, anyway.) It should be fun to see what they can come up with for a team with obvious proven live-action appeal.
Premiering as part of the Marvel Universe block on Sunday, August 11, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. is described in the official press release as follows:
In this never before seen team up of Hulk, his cousin She-Hulk, A-Bomb, Red Hulk and Skaar, Marvel’s mightiest super heroes form an eccentric family living under one roof, working together to tackle threats that are too enormous for other heroes to handle. From trying to house break their giant red pet T-Rex to stopping Ego the Living Planet from crashing into the Earth, the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. must learn to balance Hulk-sized action with everyday family-sized problems.
I have to say that the idea of a Hulk team show with Flintstones touches sounds a bit corny on the face of it. But dig a little deeper, and the list of talent involved will give you pause: The great Paul Dini will write for the series (and continue to do so for Ultimate Spider-Man), and, alongside veteran voice actor Fred Tatasciore as Hulk, the voice talents will include Clancy Brown as Red Hulk, Eliza Dushku as She-Hulk, and Seth Green as A-Bomb. I find it impossible to believe that any animated series produced by such a team would not be worth watching, so I’ll definitely be giving this one the benefit of the doubt, and I recommend you and your kids do, too.
Marvel’s Avengers Assemble will preview in a one-hour special at 11:00am ET/PT on Sunday, May 26, and have its series premiere at 11:00am ET/PT on Sunday, July 7, both on Disney XD. Marvel’s Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. will have its series premiere at 11:00am ET/PT on Sunday, August 11, on Disney XD.
Images copyright by, and courtesy of, Disney XD.
