Marvel Studios: Legends

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Marvel Studios: Legends
Marvel Studios Legends logo.jpg
Genre
Based onMarvel Comics
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time5–10 minutes
Production companyMarvel Studios
DistributorDisney Platform Distribution
Release
Original networkDisney+
Original releaseJanuary 8, 2021 (2021-01-08) –
present (present)
Chronology
Related showsMarvel Studios: Assembled
External links
Production website

Marvel Studios: Legends is an American television docuseries created for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics characters and objects that appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Each episode showcases an individual character or object with footage from past MCU films, highlighting their prominent moments from the MCU.

The series was first announced in December 2020. Marvel Studios: Legends premiered on January 8, 2021, with subsequent episodes releasing shortly before a Disney+ series' premiere or a film's initial release. It received positive responses for being helpful to casual viewers of the franchise, but criticism for being a clip show with no new footage or documentary elements.

Premise[]

The series examines individual heroes, villains, moments, and objects from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and how they connect, in anticipation of the upcoming stories that will feature them in the Disney+ Phase Four series and films.[1][2][3]

Background[]

Marvel Studios: Legends was announced in December 2020 as a new series that would revisit characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ahead of their appearances in new Disney+ series as part of Phase Four of the MCU. Two episodes were initially announced, with one for Wanda Maximoff and one for Vision ahead of their roles in WandaVision.[1] Upon its announcement, many commentators believed the series would be a clip show and a good way to remind viewers of a character's history and allow casual viewers a quick way to catch-up without watching hours of past MCU content.[4][5][6] Chaim Gartenberg at The Verge also likened the series to the one-page recaps Marvel Comics uses to similarly catch readers up for ongoing stories.[4]

The series features short episodes made up of footage from past MCU films that featured the highlighted character, moment, or object.[7] Collider's Matt Goldberg felt Marvel Studios: Legends did not cost Disney or Marvel Studios "anything more than some editor's work and a bit of music" to produce given each episode's length and content.[8] In February 2021, after the announcement of the fellow Marvel Studios docuseries Marvel Studios: Assembled, some commentators called Assembled a companion series to Legends, since Assembled presents behind the scenes material after a MCU film or series.[9][10] Also in the month, episodes for Falcon, Winter Soldier, Zemo, and Sharon Carter were announced ahead of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.[11][12]

In May 2021, before the release of Loki, episodes for Loki and the Tesseract were announced.[13][2] The following month, an episode for Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow was announced ahead of the character's appearance in the Phase Four film Black Widow (2021), which was set to be made available on Disney+ with Premier Access.[3] In July, episodes for Peggy Carter, the Avengers Initiative, and the Ravagers were announced, ahead of their appearances in the series What If...?.[14] In August 2021, before the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, an episode for the Ten Rings organization was announced.[15]

Episodes[]

List of Marvel Studios: Legends episodes
No.TitleAssociated MCU workOriginal release date [a]
1"Wanda Maximoff"WandaVision[1]January 8, 2021 (2021-01-08)
Wanda Maximoff and her twin brother Pietro fight the Avengers during Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), but ultimately join them. Pietro dies in that film, and Wanda subsequently builds a relationship with Vision across Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). She returns in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2"Vision"WandaVision[1]January 8, 2021 (2021-01-08)
Tony Stark's artificial intelligence J.A.R.V.I.S., first seen in Iron Man (2008), becomes Vision during Age of Ultron when Stark combines J.A.R.V.I.S. with a synthetic body and the Mind Stone. Vision starts a relationship with Wanda Maximoff in Civil War, but she destroys him in Infinity War in an attempt to stop Thanos from getting the Mind Stone.
3"Falcon"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier[12]March 5, 2021 (2021-03-05)
Sam Wilson befriends Steve Rogers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and fights as an Avenger in Age of Ultron and Ant-Man (2015). Wilson sides with Rogers during Civil War and subsequently goes on the run. They return to fight Thanos in Infinity War, and Rogers hands Wilson the mantle of Captain America at the end of Endgame.
4"The Winter Soldier"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier[12]March 5, 2021 (2021-03-05)
In Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Bucky Barnes is a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, fighting as a Howling Commando with Steve Rogers. After seemingly falling to his death on a mission, Barnes is recovered by Hydra and brainwashed to become an assassin, the Winter Soldier. Rogers helps Barnes remember his past in The Winter Soldier and Civil War, and Wakandans remove his programming by the end of Black Panther (2018). Barnes fights Thanos in Infinity War and Endgame.
5"Zemo"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier[12]March 12, 2021 (2021-03-12)
Helmut Zemo works to divide the Avengers in Civil War after their actions in the battle of Sokovia during Age of Ultron led to the deaths of his loved ones. Zemo's plan involves revealing that Tony Stark's parents were murdered by the Winter Soldier, and leads to the Avengers parting ways, though Zemo is captured by Black Panther and imprisoned.
6"Sharon Carter"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier[12]March 12, 2021 (2021-03-12)
Sharon Carter, also known as Agent 13 of S.H.I.E.L.D., is assigned to watch Steve Rogers during the events of The Winter Soldier and becomes an ally of his during the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. Carter then joins the CIA, where she again aids Rogers as he attempts to save Bucky Barnes during the events of Civil War.
7"Loki"Loki[2]June 4, 2021 (2021-06-04)
A prince of Asgard living in the shadow of his brother Thor, Loki attempts to claim Odin's throne during the events of Thor (2011) but is defeated by Thor and presumed dead. He later reappears on Earth in The Avengers (2012), where he is apprehended by the Avengers and returned to Asgard. Loki is again presumed dead in Thor: The Dark World (2013) after apparently sacrificing himself to save Thor, but is found to be alive and impersonating Odin in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Loki is killed by Thanos in Infinity War.
8"The Tesseract"Loki[2]June 4, 2021 (2021-06-04)
The Tesseract is the Space Infinity Stone that Red Skull uses to build weapons for Hydra in World War II during The First Avenger. Howard Stark finds it, and by 1995, Wendy Lawson uses it to create an experimental lightspeed engine in Captain Marvel (2019). An accident with the engine gives Carol Danvers superpowers, and she entrusts the Tesseract to Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. In 2012, S.H.I.E.L.D. is making weapons with the Tesseract in The Avengers, when it is taken to Asgard until Loki steals it during Ragnarok. Thanos takes it from him in Infinity War and later destroys all of the Infinity Stones. In Endgame, the Avengers try to retrieve the Infinity Stones from the past, but a 2012 version of Loki steals the Tesseract and teleports away.
9"Black Widow"Black Widow[3]July 7, 2021 (2021-07-07)
Natasha Romanoff's history in the MCU is explored, from her introduction in Iron Man 2 to the character's death in Endgame.
10"Peggy Carter"What If...?[14]August 4, 2021 (2021-08-04)
11"The Avengers Initiative"What If...?[14]August 4, 2021 (2021-08-04)
12"The Ravagers"What If...?[14]August 4, 2021 (2021-08-04)
13"The Ten Rings"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings[15]September 1, 2021 (2021-09-01)

Release[]

Marvel Studios: Legends released its first two episodes on January 8, 2021 on Disney+.[1] Additional episodes were released before a character's appearance in a Disney+ series or film.[12][3]

Reception[]

Matt Goldberg at Collider described Legends as "elaborate fan videos that offer cross-promotion" for Marvel, which he did not think was bad but he did wish that the series "offered up something new", such as actors "talking about their characters or offering a fresh teaser for" what was being promoted. He concluded that Legends was "content to be a highly produced recap video".[8] Charlie Ridgely, writing for ComicBook.com, called Legends "incredibly handy" given there had not been any new MCU content in 2020. While conceding viewers already familiar with the highlighted character's stories might not see the need for the episodes since they were "quite literally just a recap of what happened in the movies", he felt it was still "a great refresher" for viewers interested in the new Marvel Disney+ content who "maybe aren't as into the greater MCU... allow[ing] everyone to be on a similar page".[7] Variety's Caroline Framke felt Marvel was anticipating confusion from casual MCU viewers during their new Disney+ series, and called Legends "pretty helpful" heading into WandaVision.[16] Some viewers were disappointed in the series, expecting a more in depth documentary with creatives providing interviews rather than a clip show.[17]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Paige, Rachel (December 15, 2020). "Marvel Studios Announces New Series Debuting Exclusively on Disney+". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Dela Paz, Maggie (May 18, 2021). "Disney+ June 2021 Schedule: Movies and TV Titles Revealed". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Ridgely, Charlie (June 16, 2021). "Disney+: Every Movie and TV Show Arriving in July 2021". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Gartenberg, Chaim (December 15, 2020). "The MCU is so big Disney Plus is getting a new Legends clip show to help you keep track". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Gemmill, Allie (December 15, 2020). "New MCU Show 'Marvel Studios: Legends' Coming to Disney+ in 2021". Collider. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Whitbrook, James (December 15, 2020). "Marvel Figured Out an Easier Way for You to Catch Up on Dozens of Movies". io9. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Ridgely, Charlie (January 8, 2021). "Marvel Studios Releases New Legends Trailer". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Goldberg, Matt (January 8, 2021). "Disney+'s 'Marvel Studios Legends' Starts Off as a 15-Minute Recap for 'WandaVision'". Collider. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Bui, Hoai-Tran (February 16, 2021). "'Marvel Studios' Assembled': Disney+ to Debut New MCU Documentary Series with Making-Of Special About 'WandaVision'". /Film. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Gemmill, Allie (February 16, 2021). "Marvel Studios Announces 'Assembled' Making-of Disney+ Docuseries & First Episode Details". Collider. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  11. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (February 16, 2021). "Marvel Legends: Falcon, Winter Soldier, Baron Zemo, and Sharon Carter to Get Episodes in Disney+ Recap Series". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Outlaw, Kofi (March 5, 2021). "Disney+ Releases The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Marvel Studios Legends Episodes Early". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "(#107/108) "Loki / The Tesseract"". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Ridgely, Charlie (July 15, 2021). "Disney+: Every Movie and TV Show Arriving in August 2021". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b Siegal, Jacob (August 17, 2021). "Every new movie and show coming to Disney Plus in September 2021". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Framke, Caroline (January 14, 2021). "'WandaVision' Is Better as a Weird Marvel Swing Than Sitcom Twist: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (January 8, 2021). "Marvel Fans Disappointed With Marvel Studios: Legends". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Each Legends episode is released prior to the premiere of the associated series or film.

External links[]

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