Last August, we came across a report suggesting that Marvel Television was developing a New Warriors series featuring Doreen Green, aka Squirrel Girl. That project has now earned a straight-to-series order from Freeform, a Disney-owned cable network.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, like the other upcoming Marvel/Freeform series Cloak and Dagger, the New Warriors’ 10-episode inaugural season will likely air in 2018. Each episode of the young adult-centric comedy show will run for 30 minutes.
In addition to Squirrel Girl, the titular superhero team will include five as yet unnamed members. Over the years, many superhero combinations have been part of the New Warriors team in Marvel Comics. Interestingly, Squirrel Girl has never been a member. The current roster includes Justice, Speedball, Silhouette, Nova, Water Snake, Scarlet Spider, Hummingbird, Sun Girl, and Haechi.
[In The New Warriors series, Doreen is] a totally empowering fan girl who is described as tough, optimistic, and a natural leader. Doreen is confident and has the powers of a squirrel: she’s acrobatic, can fight, and talks to other squirrels. Her most important trait is said to be her faith in people and her ability to teach them to believe in themselves.
The Hollywood Reporter also revealed that Marvel and Freeform are close to signing Cougar Town co-creator Kevin Biegel as showrunner for New Warriors. If the deal is sealed, he will also pen the script and serve as executive producer alongside Jeph Loeb and Jim Chory. Biegel created Enlisted and worked on Scrubs and The Real O'Neals.
Here's an official synopsis for the upcoming series:
New Warriors revolves around six young people with powers living and working together. With powers and abilities on the opposite end of the spectrum of The Avengers’, the New Warriors want to make a difference in the world…even if the world isn’t ready. With Freeform focused on a group dubbed “becomers” "” those experiencing a series of firsts in life, including first loves and first jobs "” New Warriors explores the journey into adulthood, except in this world, they’re not quite super, and not yet heroes, and the guys can be as terrifying as bad dates.
