In 2018, when IP is king of the box office and it seems like reliably bankable movie stars are few and far between, it’s Adam Schweitzer’s job to make sure actors don’t lose out.
“Most of the aspects of this business are really exciting right now,” said Schweitzer, a longtime veteran of ICM Partners and currently co-head of the agency’s talent department. “But I get a little concerned on the movie side. It’s the thing that I hear most from people or friends who don’t work in this business — How come there’s no good movies?”
Adult dramas aimed at a mature audience with original, complete stories. Movies that aren’t based on a beloved comic book series, or the nth installment in an endless franchise, or a remake of an old classic.
“The studios are making franchises based on existing IP, geared toward a younger audience,” he said. “There aren’t many really great films out there for a mature audience who wants to see a dramatic story or just a great story in general. And I think that’s very, very frustrating for a lot of actors and frustrating for me too, just as a fan of film.”
Even as actors and their reps have found ways to adapt to the new state of the business — Schweitzer’s client Rebecca Ferguson recently starred in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” the sixth installment in the action franchise which raked in nearly $800 million at the worldwide box office and was almost universally acclaimed — they’ve had to look elsewhere for the kinds of roles the big studios aren’t offering like they used to.
And while the movie business increasingly contracts around family-friendly fare and tentpole blockbusters, the TV industry is in the midst of a content explosion, which, for all the handwringing from executives and critics, has been a huge boon for talent.
From the recent proliferation of close-ended limited series on cable, to the seemingly endless fountains of cash from the streaming giants and the ever-reliable pilot cycle of the broadcast networks, there’s no shortage of opportunity for actors. And paydays are “off the charts,” Schweitzer says.
Whether its Julia Roberts leading her first television series with Amazon’s “Homecoming” or Meryl Streep joining the second season of HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” or a major star cashing in on a lucrative 30-second Super Bowl commercial, as the money and creative freedom flow, so follows the talent. In what is perhaps the natural culmination of the last 10 to 15 years, the barriers between the big screen and the small may finally be down for good.
“People are much more willing to take a chance now in all different areas of the business, even like producing something in the unscripted space,” said Schweitzer. “You see Alec Baldwin hosting a game show now [ABC’s “Match Game” reboot]. I mean, when would that ever happen before? … You just have to adjust what you’re doing, but overall, there’s more opportunity.”
Even the big franchises that have taken over the box office have begun to see the upsides of the TV business. Schweitzer reps Sebastian Stan, who is in talks to reprise his role as Bucky Barnes from the Marvel Cinema Universe in one of several series in the works at Disney’s streaming service, Disney+.
But television can also be incredibly creatively liberating for an actor, with writers and directors migrating from the world of film to a space where they can craft meaty roles for some big name stars that take their time and reveal themselves across eight or 10 or, even, 22 episodes.
Those films audiences have been clamoring for, the ones that used to exist in the spaces between the blockbuster tentpoles and family-friendly fare, but have since gone scarce, “those stories are being told as limited series on a cable network or a streaming service,” Schweitzer said. “That’s what’s replacing going to a movie theater.”
He continued, “It’s almost a different way to be able to do a movie, which is I think essentially what a lot of these actors came up wanting to do or were doing or still want to be doing. It’s just the studios don’t make the movies that they want to make, and the independent film business is difficult. So here’s a platform now where you can tell your story … and be paid appropriately.”
Every Marvel Comics Live-Action TV Show Ranked, from 'Incredible Hulk' to 'Daredevil'
The recent high-profile shows on Netflix, ABC and FX aren't the first ones Marvel has taken to the small screen. Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Blade and even knock-off-ish X-Men had a go before the current golden age. Here are all the Marvel shows, ranked from goofiest pajama costumes to best character-driven dramas.
18. “The Amazing Spider-Man” (1977-79) A 1977 attempt at a live-action “Spider-Man” is a fun throwback -- but in a purely ironic way because Peter Parker’s wall-crawling "special effects" are pretty cringe-worthy. Watching Spider-Man fight guys using extremely hokey choreography gives the whole thing a pretty goofy vibe.
17. “Spidey Super Stories” (1974-77) Spider-Man takes on some super-boring villains. He goes up against The Prankster (a school principal who keeps pranking his students) and The Spoiler (who just likes to everyday things for people) in these goofy sketches in PBS’ “The Electric Company.” Worth a few minutes of watching on YouTube.
16. "Mutant X" (2001-04) Delightfully 2001 in every way, the syndicated “Mutant X” is the knock-off "X-Men" TV show with a low budget a lot of people probably wanted. With obviously pulled punches and early CGI, “Mutant X” scratches an itch for a brand of superhero show that’s completely rooted in the world of 20 years ago.
15. "The Inhumans" (2017-current)
Nobody seemed able to get over bad wigs and CGI of "The Inhumans" when it first started, and the show didn't improve much from there. Thin plots and boring characters make this the least interesting of all the modern Marvel shows.
14. “Blade: The Series” (2006) Spike TV took the successful “Blade” movies and made a TV show. It’s a decent precursor to the grittier Marvel takes that would later show up on Netflix. Violent, blood-splattered vampire hunting couldn’t hold an audience in 2006, though.
13. “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (2013-current) For much of its run, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” has been more or less answering the question, “Hey, what are the normal people up to?” That can be pretty engaging, although keeping the show up with the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity on a budget sometimes reigns it in.
12. "The Defenders" (2017) After four separate, individual series, Netflix and Marvel unite Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage and the Iron Fist to save New York in "The Defenders." The culmination of several series' stories and the combination of all four different personalities makes "The Defenders" a lot of fun, but the short series winds up confusing and a bit anti-climactic in its final few episodes.
11. "The Incredible Hulk" (1977-82) Green Lou Ferrigno helped carry “The Incredible Hulk” through five seasons. The formula of David Banner wandering around America, getting into adventures and helping people, is pretty standard for TV. But there’s plenty of wrong-doers to trigger the Hulk’s rage and get him involved — for justice.
10. “Spider-Man” (1978-79)
A pretty deep departure from the Marvel Comics stories, the Japanese take on “Spider-Man” is worth a look just for the way Spider-man pushes a button on a bracelet that shoots out his suit. This version fully understands to folly of trying to make a serious Spider-Man thing in the '70s and goes gleefully the other way with plenty of self-awareness.
9. "The Runaways" (2017-current)
Hulu's first Marvel offering takes a different tack than its other shows. Focusing on a diverse group of teenagers, it's much more about a mystery concerning the parents -- who might, in fact, be evil -- than a bunch of people punching each other.
8. “Agent Carter” (2015-16)
TV gives Marvel the chance to dig into smaller side stories adjacent to its movies. “Agent Carter” takes that idea to its logical extent, turning out a period show led by a woman and Captain America pal. It gets to explore minor characters pretty intimately, while adding depth to the world when it comes time to turn on an “Avengers” movie.
7. "The Gifted" (2017-present)
Spinning off from the realm of "The X-Men," "The Gifted" starts out as a pretty standard superhero story. But with a family angle, some interesting and involving characters, and story topics that go beyond the usual "X-Men" fugitive angle, "The Gifted" is evolving into an interesting new take on the "X-Men" idea.
6. “Luke Cage” (2016-current)
Giving a different perspective on superheroes than anything that’s come before it, Netflix’s “Luke Cage” adds breadth to the MCU that shows how deep and interesting it can be. It’s also very aware of its time and place in culture and doesn’t shy away from the issues inherent in focusing on a bulletproof black man.
5. “Daredevil” (2015-current)
The first of Netflix and more down-to-earth superhero TV shows that take place in shadow of the Marvel Cinematic Universe does a great job of making Daredevil seem like a mostly regular dude. It’s also full of great, visceral fight scenes that pack an intensity that CGI can’t really achieve. And season 3 took the series to a whole new level, elevating it from simply fun to watch to legitimately good.
4. "Iron Fist" (2017-2018) The first season was really, really rough in every way, but season 2 was a whole different animal. It's fun and adventurous in a way none of these other shows are -- basically masterful trash.
3. “Jessica Jones” (2016-current)
Another lower-key superhero story, “Jessica Jones” brings heroes and villains down to their very human flaws. The way it taps into and explores feminist themes gives a whole different take on the idea of superpowers in the Marvel universe.
2. “Legion” (2017-current)
Visually gorgeous, this slow-burn look at one of the “X-Men” universe’s most powerful mutants does, so far, a phenomenal job of exploring its anti-hero. The focus on the mystery of David’s sanity digs deep into what it’s like, and how to cope, with being a mutant in a way that’s very different from other “X-Men” takes.
1. "The Punisher" (2017-current)
The best of the Netflix Marvel shows so far is "The Punisher." Following the exploits of former soldier Frank Castle, it spends most of its time concerned with a bunch of characters struggling to deal with their own personal tragedies. It also has some of the better action scenes Marvel has yet put in its Netflix series.
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There have been more shows based on Marvel Comics than you probably know
The recent high-profile shows on Netflix, ABC and FX aren't the first ones Marvel has taken to the small screen. Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Blade and even knock-off-ish X-Men had a go before the current golden age. Here are all the Marvel shows, ranked from goofiest pajama costumes to best character-driven dramas.
