Cloak & Dagger Premiere Director Hints At MCU Connection

Speaking at the Freeform Summit, director Gina Prince-Bythewood has stressed that Cloak & Dagger will be a powerful series. Although grounded in real-world issues, it will explore them in the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“It’s all connected.” Those three words thrill Marvel fans, who recognize that there’s more to the MCU than just a range of blockbuster films. The MCU encompasses a massive range of content, from TV shows to tie-in comics, from YouTube channels to one-shots. Fans love the way these different strands interact, although they’re always eager for them to be tied ever tighter.

Recent Marvel TV shows have felt a little more disjointed. Runaways was a tremendous series, for example, but the first season might as well have existed in a separate universe. The only obvious tie-in was the fact Alex had superhero merchandise in his bedroom. Fans have been more than a little concerned Cloak & Dagger would take the same approach. The show’s topical nature, complete with an interracial romance, had seemed a world away from the movies. Fortunately, director Prince-Bythewood has insisted fans don’t need to worry. As she explained: “We wanted to tell [this story] in a grounded, authentic way within this fantastic universe.”

Cloak & Dagger will be a curious blend of a tremendously topical series, grounded in real life, and yet taking place in a world of superheroes. In their panel, the cast and crew highlight the grounded nature of the series. As Jeph Loeb explained, “A Marvel hero always begins with the person not the power.” And the “persons” in this series are remarkable. Strip away the super-powers, and this is the story of an interracial romance between two down-on-their-luck teenagers. Given the current political climate, Cloak & Dagger is a bold move from Marvel.

At the same time, fans really didn’t need to worry that the series would lack connections to the wider MCU. The first trailer closed with a massive sign for the Roxxon Corporation, a company that’s appeared many times before in the MCU. In fact, Roxxon were actually the villains of Agent Carter season 1, conducting dangerous experiments and industrial espionage.

It’s important to remember that the source of Cloak’s power has always been a connection to a mysterious dimension known as the Darkforce. That dimension was introduced back in Agent Carter season 2. Another company, Isodyne Energy, somehow opened a dangerous portal. Crucially, throwaway dialogue in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4 established that, back in the ’50s, Roxxon purchased Isodyne. That Roxxon sign is unlikely to be a coincidence.

Prince-Bythewood’s words will cause fans to relax; Cloak and Dagger will be grounded in real-world issues, but it’s most definitely set in the MCU. In fact, if that first trailer is anything to go by, the series will link in strongly to everything we’ve seen before.

Cloak & Dagger will premiere Thursday June 7th at 8pm ET on Freeform.

Source: Cloak & Dagger