Pair of Marvel Series Among Freeform’s Highlights

The Walt Disney Company’s Freeform has unveiled highlights of its upcoming programming lineup, which includes two new live-action Marvel shows.

Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger tells the story of two teens who awaken to new and mysteriously linked superpowers. Ten hour-long episodes have been ordered and will launch in early 2018. The show stars Olivia Holt, Aubrey Joseph, Andrea Roth, Gloria Reuben, Miles Mussenden, Carl Lundstedt, James Saito and J.D. Evermore. It is co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios. Joe Pokaski serves as showrunner and executive producer.

There is also Marvel’s New Warriors, an adaptation of the popular comics featuring young-adult heroes. Freeform ordered ten 30-minute episodes of the show, which is co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios and will debut next year. Characters will include Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl), Craig Hollis (Mister Immortal), Dwayne Taylor (Night Thrasher), Robbie Baldwin (Speedball), Zack Smith (Microbe) and Deborah Fields (Debrii).

The network also announced that the new hour-long drama series Siren, previously known as The Deep, was given a 10-episode order for a summer 2018 premiere. The show is set in a coastal town where mermaids have come to reclaim their right to the ocean. Stars include Alex Roe, Eline Powell, Fola Evans-Akingbola and Ian Verdun, among others. Emily Whitesell is on board as showrunner and exec producer.

Freeform released the first-look trailers for the previously announced comedy Alone Together, which comes from The Lonely Island and will debut early next year, as well as The Bold Type, a drama produced by Joanna Coles that has begun production in Montreal. The Bold Type, about a global women’s magazine, will have a special two-hour premiere on July 11 at 9 p.m. The show stars Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy, Sam Page, Matt Ward and Melora Hardin, and is exec produced by Sarah Watson, David Bernad, Ruben Fleischer, Victor Nelli Jr. and Coles. It is a Universal Television and The District production.

The channel placed a pilot order for its first animated comedy, Sticks, which comes from producing duo Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City). The series follows the life of a neurotic twentysomething who is obsessed with pop culture and Chili’s. Jessica Stickles serves as writer and co-executive producer, with Glazer and Jacobson, Will Gluck and Richard Schwartz also exec producing. Sticks is produced by Olive Bridge Entertainment and animated by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Freeform also unveiled Summer Fling, the network’s first fan festival, which will kick off in summer 2018. The event, previously announced as Freeform Fest, will feature a star-studded lineup during two days of performances, panels and meet-and-greets. Superfly, co-creators of Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, is collaborating with Freeform on the festival.

Also announced is Hollywood Movie Night with Karlie Kloss, a tentatively titled series that will look on as the titular supermodel and her friends comment on their favorite films. The show is executive produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner from Hazy Mills Productions alongside Ben Nemtin and Duncan Penn from Four Peaks Media Group. Karlie Kloss of Klossy Productions will also executive produce.

Freeform is teaming up with People magazine to develop multiple scripted, original movies about celebrities, pop culture and entertainment news. Everywhere Studios is co-producing the films. The pact will also use People‘s Heroes Among Us franchise to spotlight individuals doing extraordinary things.

In addition, the channel is expanding its 25 Days of Christmas content slate with the new holiday special Decorating Disney (December 2017), and original movies Angry Angel (working title) and Life-Size 2 (starring Tyra Banks), which are slated for broadcast in December 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Freeform plans to continue rolling out content on demand via its app for connected TV, mobile and online. Programming will be released on all Freeform platforms at launch, and select series will be available all at once.

Tom Ascheim, Freeform’s president, remarked: “With compelling programming and innovative viewing experiences that combine linear with on demand, Freeform is redefining what it means to be a television network for today’s consumer.”