Brad Winderbaum finally confirms that Strange Academy was indeed in development at Marvel

Sometimes, Marvel fans make jokes about the shows that sound like a dream, and this one actually turned out to be a dream. Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel streaming, TV, and animation, has recently posted that Marvel once had a Strange Academy concept.

He said that Marvel usually comes up with a lot of ideas, and then it is decided which ones will finally be produced. Thus, although there is currently no full Strange Academy series being launched on Disney+, it was certainly included in the initial Marvel development.

In brief: the project existed, but was not picked up for production, at least not yet.

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Strange Academy was in production

Brad Winderbaum had not made a throwaway remark; he specifically stated in interviews that Strange Academy was one of the shows that Marvel had developed. That word is important.

In a conversation with Agents of Fandom, Brad Winderbaum stated:

“We developed Strange Academy. We develop a few shows, some of them get redeveloped, some of them get kind of paused for a little bit to be revisited later.”

At a major studio like Marvel, “development” can mean many things, from initial story meetings and concept art to assembling a writers’ room or drafting scripts. Winderbaum was practical. Marvel comes up with many more ideas than it can produce. Some projects proceed, while a few are put on hold, and others undergo a complete rewrite before anything is laid to screen.

When he tells you, “We developed Strange Academy,” he is assuring you that it was not merely a rumor. The idea was put into action. This doesn’t necessarily mean that filming has started or that a release is planned. The list of projects that get developed by Marvel is enormous, and very few of these projects make it to production.

This is exciting to those who are fond of the Strange Academy comics, a magical school with new and unusual students. It shows that Marvel was at least considering that world, though we are yet to know whether it will become an animated series, a live-action show, or something else, and when exactly it will be released.

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Strange Academy was not the only one on hiatus

There were silent headlines last year that Strange Academy had been put on hold, and no, you did not imagine things; it really happened. Media outlets actually reported that Marvel had shelved the show, among other intended projects like Nova and Terror, Inc.

The break wasn’t about abandoning those projects; it was about Marvel taking a step back and rethinking how it approaches television. Rather than rushing into production or announcing a long list of shows, the studio wants to proceed more carefully. The new strategy focuses on developing ideas more thoroughly, giving writers and creative teams additional time to refine scripts, and only green-lighting a series when it’s truly strong and ready.

By doing so, Marvel will be able to dedicate its finances and staff to projects that are solid from the start, which will likely result in fewer delays and higher-quality shows in the long term for the audience.

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What this means for fans

The confirmation is thrilling to those who are fond of the concept of Strange Academy, but it also reveals how Marvel functions behind the scenes. It is clear from Brad Winderbaum’s comments that Marvel prefers shows that have a long shelf life: shows that can be expanded over multiple seasons or even adapted into different formats, such as animation or one-off specials.

That is the reason why Marvel frequently mentions that a project is in the process of being redeveloped rather than cancelled. It does not necessarily imply that the idea has expired; it may simply resurface at a later time in a different form. Winderbaum also discussed larger plans by Marvel, including long-term franchises such as the animated series X-Men ’97 and their recent TV-MA show, Marvel Zombies.

There is, in fact, a possibility of a Strange Academy story being produced, as either a cartoon, a special, or as an entire series, should Marvel find the necessary creative spark and a means to continue it. Fans can remain excited and hopeful, but it’s important to remember that Marvel moves at its own pace. If the show does return, it will be because the team has found the right formula to ensure its lasting success.

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