Marvel Studios Special Presentations are a series oftelevision specials produced byMarvel Studios forDisney+, set within theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the franchise'sfilms andtelevision series. The Marvel Studios Special Presentation banner was revealed alongside the announcement of the first television special,Werewolf by Night (2022), in September 2022. The approximately hour-long specials are envisioned to provide a short look at new characters or concepts to the MCU. The Special Presentations are accompanied by a special fanfare and opening reminiscent of theCBS Special Presentation intro from the 1980s and 1990s.
Werewolf by Night andThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) are included inPhase Four of the MCU, both of which are holiday-themed. Marvel Studios is open to the idea of additional specials, and by February 2025, had begun developingan untitled special withJon Bernthal focused on his characterFrank Castle / Punisher for release in 2026 as part ofPhase Six. The Special Presentation format has been praised for how it allowed Marvel Studios to tell contained stories that experiment with genre and style, and could introduce more obscure characters, while also not being beholden to long-form storytelling as with their films and television series.
By September 2018,Marvel Studios was developing several limited series forDisney's new streaming serviceDisney+, to be centered on "second tier" characters from theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films who had not and were unlikely to star in their own films.[1] Developing content for Disney+ allowed Marvel Studios to be flexible with formats, such as emulating one-off or annual holiday-themedtelevision specials likeA Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) andFrosty the Snowman (1969);[2][3] those specials were usually 30 minutes to an hour, which was the length Marvel Studios was envisioning for their specials.[4]
In December 2020, Marvel Studios announcedThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special for Disney+, to be released in late 2022,[5][6] during theholiday season.[7] TheHoliday Special was the first piece of content Marvel Studios planned to create for Disney+.[8] By August 2021, aHalloween-themed television special for Disney+ was in development, reportedly centered onWerewolf by Night.[9] At theD23 Expo in September 2022, Marvel confirmed the Halloween special asWerewolf by Night, which was released in October.[10] At that time, the "Marvel Studios Special Presentation" banner was revealed, under whichWerewolf by Night andThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special would be marketed.[11][12] Marvel Studios executiveBrian Gay called the Marvel Studios Special Presentations a "new format" for the studio, with each special meant to be a short look at "either a different story or a different area of the universe",[13] such as introducing new characters or concepts to the MCU, and teasing how they could further integrate into the MCU with future appearances.[4]
Michael Giacchino, the director ofWerewolf by Night, said Marvel Studios presidentKevin Feige was hopeful thatWerewolf by Night would be "the first of a few one-and-done stories".[14] By the release ofWerewolf by Night, Marvel Studios had not determined any set release plan for potential future specials.[4] By March 2023, a special centered onMephisto was reportedly in production.[15] Feige said in July 2024 that an additional special was in development that was planned to be released after 2025,[16] and Marvel Studios' head of streaming, television, and animationBrad Winderbaum confirmed in September that more specials would be developed.[17] In February 2025, a Special Presentation centered onFrank Castle / Punisher was announced to be in development withJon Bernthal reprising the role as well as co-writing the special;[18] it was planned to be released in 2026.[19]
Special Presentations feature a special multicolored intro with bongo drum music, reminiscent of theCBS Special Presentation theme featured before animated holiday specials of the 1980s and 1990s.[11][3][20] Giacchino (who directed and composed forWerewolf by Night) composed the fanfare, calling the opening a "love letter" to the broadcast networks' special presentation logos, which were used to indicate unique programming, something Marvel Studios wanted the Special Presentations to be as well.[3] The intro was designed byPerception.[21]
Jamie Lovett atComicBook.com called the Marvel Studios Special Presentation intro "more colorful" and its fanfare "more playful" than thenormal Marvel Studios intro,[22] while Rachel Paige fromMarvel.com called the fanfare "an absolutebop, and one sure to elicit that same level of excitement" when heard as the broadcast networks' special presentations did.[3]Comic Book Resources's Joshua M. Patton believed this intro would "have a similar effect on new generations of kids" as the older broadcast networks' introductions did, since it "evoke[s] the memory of its CBS counterpart" and signaled to viewers they were "about to see something exciting and new".[20]
Following the release ofWerewolf by Night, Tyler Llewyn Taing of/Film said the Special Presentations could "lead to more exciting genre and stylistic experiments in the MCU down the line" asWerewolf by Night was, and likened the hour-long television special format to Marvel Studios'One-Shot short films.[44] As part of hisWerewolf by Night review, Chris E. Hayner atGameSpot said the specials "should become a regular occurrence" if they could be as good asWerewolf by Night was.[45] Rupesh Nair atIGN India compared the special format toone-shot comics and toDC Comics'sElseworlds publications, stating the Special Presentations have "elevated" the MCU and could be the franchise's "critical darings". He hoped future specials would be able to introduce unknown characters to audiences through stories that "allows directors and cast members to shine".[46] Richard Newby ofThe Hollywood Reporter felt the format was "[the] MCU's most exciting prospect", stating that it was "a good idea [to] reduce the number of series, if not movies, and rethink them as Special Presentations, rather than six-to-nine-week commitments... [to] free up audiences and renew their investment in the universe, and allow filmmakers to stretch themselves creatively."[47]
A documentary special forWerewolf by Night, titledDirector by Night, was announced in September 2022,[48][49] withAnthony Giacchino serving as writer and director.[50][51]Director by Night was released on Disney+ on November 4, 2022,[49] marketed with the "Marvel Studios Special Presentation" branding.[50]
Official Marvel Studios Special Presentation Animation by Perception presents the specials' opening fanfare,YouTube video fromPerception's channel
