MCU Revamps Disney+ Strategy: Agatha All Along Leads the Change

Marvel Studios has shifted its approach to Disney+ series, starting with Agatha All Along, breaking away from the strategy it has used since WandaVision in 2021. While the initial strategy helped create a seamless connection between MCU shows and movies, fans have noticed a dip in reception for newer projects. Now, the studio is shaking things up, aiming to reinvigorate its storytelling on Disney+.

Marvel Studios Adopts New Disney+ Strategy with Agatha All Along

In an exclusive with SFX Magazine, Marvel Studios confirmed that its upcoming series, Agatha All Along, will mark the first time the company uses a showrunner-led approach for Disney+ projects. Up until now, Marvel’s Disney+ shows have been led by head writers, with directors and producers taking over during production. This was similar to the approach used for MCU films, but it lacked the cohesive leadership that showrunners bring to major TV series.

For Agatha All Along, Marvel has brought back WandaVision creator Jac Schaeffer, not only as the head writer but also as the showrunner, ensuring a consistent creative vision throughout the writing, filming, and editing phases. Moving forward, this showrunner model will be applied to other MCU Disney+ series, signaling a new era for Marvel’s small-screen storytelling.

Why the Change?

Early Marvel Disney+ hits like WandaVision and Loki received widespread acclaim, but more recent releases struggled with pacing and direction, which many attributed to the lack of a singular creative lead. By switching to a showrunner model, Marvel hopes to improve the narrative depth and consistency of its series.

Schaeffer spoke about the new direction in an interview, noting that the new approach is more about “character deep dives” rather than focusing solely on MCU-wide connections:

“It’s not so much about the interconnected pieces than it’s an opportunity to go down a rabbit hole with a character or a set of characters.”

How Will the Showrunner Model Affect Future MCU Disney+ Projects?

The new showrunner-led format will give Marvel series more room to develop their own stories and characters, without the constant need to tie everything directly to the MCU’s larger narrative. This shift is expected to create a more engaging, episodic feel, allowing series to stand on their own while building toward potential crossovers.

This change comes after Daredevil: Born Again announced it would also be using a showrunner model, with Dario Scardapane attached to lead that project after an extensive overhaul.

What to Expect From Agatha All Along

As the first Disney+ series to follow this new strategy, Agatha All Along will act as a testing ground for Marvel Studios’ fresh approach. Fans can look forward to a deeper exploration of Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) after her memorable debut in WandaVision. With Schaeffer at the helm as showrunner and a dedicated nine-episode run, the series is poised to set a new standard for Marvel’s streaming content.

Agatha All Along premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday, September 18, marking the beginning of a new chapter for MCU’s Disney+ shows.