Disney+ is changing in a big way, and you can already see the lasting effects. The streaming service was introduced right before the pandemic, and its content strategy has been to replace some big franchise theatrical releases while tying into others. They really leaned into Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars TV shows as a connection to the movies.
Original series like WandaVision, Hawkeye, Loki, and Falcon and Winter Soldier all had big MCU names involved. On top of that, Star Wars leaned so heavily into Disney+ TV shows that we haven’t had theatrical releases since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. They even dual-released the theatrical release of one of their biggest MCU movies, Black Widow, leading to a lawsuit from Scarlett Johansson.
Obviously, Marvel and Star Wars aren’t the only Disney+ IPs out there, but they are the ones that the streaming platform seemed focused on throughout the COVID-19 lockdowns. They were the company’s priorityover projects like Diary of a Future President or the more recent Renegade Nell, which Disney+ canceled too soon. This focus brought audiences some great series, but it also deprived them of traditional TV shows.
In February 2025, Marvel Television boss Brad Winterbaum told ComicBook.com that the franchise would be changing its approach to storytelling. Their shows were previously miniseries focused on tying new characters into the movies. He said, “Moving forward, our priorities have shifted. 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 announcement changed the trajectory for Disney+ for the foreseeable future, and we are finally starting to see this in action. The streaming service is actually starting to feel like TV instead of just a series of miniseries tie-ins. Plus, Star Wars is headed back to the big screen with the highly anticipated The Mandalorian and Grogu, rather than relying solely on Disney+ viewers to keep the franchise going.
Recent Disney+ TV Shows Introduce The Streamer’s New Style
The shift in Disney+’s programming started with animated shows like Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, which are returning for season 2. Both of these shows technically feature major characters in their respective franchises. However, they can be watched completely separate from the MCU or Star Wars.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man takes place in an alternate universe, so they don’t even have to worry about the MCU. Maul – Shadow Lord technically ties into both Clone Wars and will probably end with Rebels. However, the first season is accessible to new audiences, and it doesn’t feel like they’re trying to tease a Maul movie. It enhances the viewing experience if you know about his other Star Wars appearances, but it isn’t required.
However, it’s now visible in live-action shows as well. The Marvel Spotlight projects, Echo and Wonder Man, are fantastic shows that focus on character-driven, grounded stories. They aren’t reliant on major MCU characters showing up. Instead, Echo brings in street-level characters like Wilson Fisk/Kingpin and Matt Murdock/Daredevil. The biggest tie-in between Wonder Man and other MCU projects is Trevor Slattery and Agent P. Cleary.
Echo‘s status is unknown, but Wonder Man will return for season 2. Of course, both Maya Lopez and Simon Williams could eventually show up in the MCU. However, at this moment, it doesn’t feel like they’re trying to build up to that. The story feels intentionally self-contained with an optional tie-in down the road.
Similarly, Daredevil: Born Again perfectly represents Disney+’s new era. The show actually feels like a TV show, not a movie teaser. The story focuses on street-level characters, like Fisk and Daredevil, who could potentially appear in the MCU but would have just as good a story if they never showed up in an MCU movie.
The creative team seems much more focused on crafting a good story that could last for multiple seasons, rather than forcing it to connect to a larger universe. What’s more, they are bringing in characters from other TV shows, like Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones, instead of the bigger MCU stars.
