Marvel's The Inhumans to become TV series, premiere in Imax cinemas

LOS ANGELES (NYTIMES) - One of Marvel Entertainment's most sprawling superhero mythologies, the Inhumans, is headed to the small screen in a major way.

But the Inhuman likes of Black Bolt, Crystal and Lockjaw, the teleporting dog, will first appear on big screens.

Imax Corp, Marvel and the ABC broadcast network announced a partnership on Monday to introduce - and finance - a lavish new TV series that will focus on the Inhuman royal family.

Under the agreement, a version that combines the initial two episodes of Marvel's The Inhumans, shot entirely with Imax cameras, will play exclusively for two weeks next September on Imax screens worldwide.

Shortly thereafter, the episodes - edited to include additional scenes - will run on ABC, with new instalments unspooling in typical prime-time fashion.

The series, billed as a family action-adventure with signature Marvel humour, will be set in the present day, with some action seeming to take place on the moon.

ABC, which urgently needs new hits, is betting that Imax, with its strength among younger consumers known as fanboys, will help make The Inhumans a must-see event.

The deal indicates that Disney remains focused on telling Marvel stories on ABC after an unexceptional start to that effort.

Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. has brought more male viewers to ABC, but it has been only a modest ratings performer. Another effort, Agent Carter, was a misfire.

ABC wants what Marvel Television and ABC Studios have supplied to Netflix - buzz-creating, widely watched series like Luke Cage and Daredevil.

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