Marvel Begins Production on New Television Series in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Economic Development announced today that Marvel has begun production on a new television series – Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger – in Louisiana for the Freeform network.

Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios, both part of the Walt Disney Company, will produce the project that features a teen superhero couple from Marvel Comics. Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger began filming in the New Orleans area this week. 

“It is my honor to welcome Marvel and its production team to our great state,” Gov. Edwards said. “Since 2002, Louisiana has been the location destination for more than $6 billion in film and TV production. Disney’s continuation of a long relationship with Louisiana and our crews, soundstages and locations comes as great news for the television industry professionals who work here, and for our resourceful vendors who supply and equip film and TV productions so well.”

Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger chronicles the adventures of Tyrone “Ty” Johnson and Tandy Bowen, teens from different backgrounds who find themselves falling in love while being burdened by, and awakened to, newly acquired superpowers. They soon learn that they are better together than apart – but their feelings for each other make their already-complicated world even more challenging. The characters first appeared in Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man comic book series in 1982, and debuted in their own publication in 1984. 

“Louisiana delivers the perfect creative landscape for Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger as well as providing exceptional resources for production talent and a business-friendly environment,” said Jeph Loeb, executive producer and Marvel’s head of television.

The television studio’s commitment to the state reaffirms Louisiana’s standing as a leading U.S. film and television production destination.

“Louisiana’s incentive program, our crew base, infrastructure, locations and film-ready communities are exceptional assets available to the television and film industry,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “We know Marvel had the ability to consider other locations, and due to their confidence in all the things we have to offer, they have wisely chosen Louisiana. LED will work hard to ensure that they continue to have a best-in-class production experience here in Louisiana. Our goal is to remain the state of choice for these projects.”

Since the dawn of Louisiana’s modern-era film program in 2002, Louisiana has hosted more than $6 billion in film and television productions. In addition to creating thousands of jobs, these productions have generated significant spending through purchases at small businesses statewide. Louisiana-based film and TV projects have delivered Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-winning work while exporting content that demonstrates the state’s ability to build its cultural brand and the flexibility to portray other locales.

“As a trailblazer in the film industry, Louisiana continues to offer a first-class film and television incentive, and we remain an unrivaled location for production,” Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly said. “We’re proud that Marvel recognizes the complete package that this state offers. This series will be a welcome addition to our ever-expanding canon of work.” 

About Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Television
Marvel Entertainment LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over 75 years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. Marvel Television develops and produces some of the world’s most creative and popular live-action and animated programming for broadcast and cable television networks, plus digital platforms that include a historic deal with Netflix. Its portfolio of self-produced series includes Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., for ABC, Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Luke Cage, and the Emmy Award- and Peabody Award-winning Marvel’s Jessica Jones for Netflix, and Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man, Marvel’s Avengers and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy for Disney XD. Marvel Television’s upcoming projects include Marvel’s Iron Fist and the culminating Marvel’s The Defenders for Netflix, as well as Marvel’s The Punisher (Netflix), Marvel’s The Inhumans (ABC), Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger (Freeform), Legion (FX) and Marvel’s Runaways (Hulu). For more information, visit Marvel.com.

About ABC Signature Studios
ABC Signature is ABC Studios’ boutique division spearheading development and production in premium and basic cable, as well as digital platforms. Signature is in post-production on the half-hour comedy pilot SMILF for Showtime, based on the Sundance Award-winning short film from Frankie Shaw, who wrote, directed and will star in the series. Shaw produces with Groundswell and Quantity Entertainment. Additionally, Signature co-produced with Fifty Fathoms the John Ridley series Guerrilla for Sky Atlantic and Showtime, starring Freida Pinto, Babou Ceesay and Idris Elba, which will premiere this spring. Marvel Studios and ABC Signature are also in pre-production on straight-to-series Marvel’s Runaways for Hulu. Signature’s credits include Dead of Summer, Blood & Oil, Benched and the Emmy-nominated HBO film Confirmation, starring Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce.

About Freeform
Part of the Disney | ABC Television Group, Freeform connects to audiences and goes beyond entertainment with bold original programming and immersive social engagement. The network delivers a unique mix of quality original and acquired series, plus fan favorite movies and the holiday events 13 Nights of Halloween and 25 Days of Christmas. The Freeform app is a service that allows viewers with participating TV subscription services to access 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access via a wide array of devices. For more information, visit DisneyABCPress.com/Freeform.

About Louisiana Entertainment
Louisiana is one of the top destinations in the world for motion picture production. With state-of-the-art facilities, a wealth of talent, film-friendly communities and a competitive incentive program, Louisiana is the perfect location for film and television production. For more information on Louisiana’s film, digital interactive, live performance and sound recording programs, visit LouisianaEntertainment.gov.