Marvel's Storyboards
Marvel's Storyboards is an American web television documentary series developed by Marvel New Media and hosted by Joe Quesada. The series was released on Marvel Entertainment's YouTube channel on July 23, 2020. The series was originally planned as a 12-episode miniseries, but its release, initially scheduled for November 2019, was postponed, and the project was later split into two seasons.
Premise
Marvel's Storyboards follows Joe Quesada, executive vice president and creative director of Marvel Entertainment, as he explores the origin stories and inspirations of storytellers across various mediums and backgrounds, visiting their favorite locations in New York City and beyond. Quesada stated that the series "captures the spirit and drive behind some of the most incredible voices across film, television, music, theater, sports, journalism, and beyond," and emphasized the importance of making these inspirational stories widely accessible during a time when many were spending more time at home.
Production
Development
Joe Quesada conceived the series after interviewing Charlie Cox at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con and pitched the idea to Disney+, which subsequently greenlit the project. In July 2020, Marvel Entertainment announced that the series would move from Disney+ to its YouTube channel, with a premiere date of July 23, 2020.
Filming
Quesada designed the series to be participatory rather than consisting solely of one-on-one interviews. In the episode featuring Ed Viesturs, Quesada joined Viesturs for high-altitude mountain climbing in the Idaho Mountains. He commented on the experience, "A comparison that everyone knows is Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. We go on locations, but instead of food or culture being the focus, the focus is a guest, the way they tell stories, and their story… The show started when someone asked me, 'What's your hobby?' and I realized that, much like Stan Lee, I'm doing my hobby for a living. That's the reason Stan never retired—he was living that old adage, 'When you do what you love, you never work a day again.' And my absolute love is storytelling. So I started to formulate this… The results are sometimes hilarious. If you want to see me face-plant in the snow several times with a mountain climber, you get your wish."
Guests
The first season featured twelve guests, including Hugh Jackman, Robert Lopez, Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Johnny Weir and Ed Viesturs. Guests in the second season included Sasheer Zamata, Ed Viesturs, Nelson Figueroa, Samhita Mukhopadhyay, and Taboo.
Release
Marvel's Storyboards premiered on the Marvel Entertainment YouTube channel on July 23, 2020, and ran for six episodes until August 27, 2020. The second season, also comprising six episodes, was released from November to December 2020. The first season of Marvel's Storyboards received over five million views on YouTube.