Once slated to be a movie, “Marvel’s Runaways” has pivoted into a show on Hulu, growing the comic book brand’s small screen offerings to yet another outlet. But the advantage of more narrative space on TV is allowing us the viewer to (theoretically) have a closer relationship to the characters, who will be drawn with greater depth and complexity than they might get in a two-hour movie. But let’s hope these early descriptions of the core teenage team who find out their parents are evil, expand far beyond their clichés.
Marvel has revealed the cast for the new show, and the group features a nerd, a Wiccan, the good-looking one, the rebel grrl, the jock, and the happy one. Here’s who is playing what:
Rhenzy Feliz (“Teen Wolf,” “Casual”) as Alex Wilder is a loud-and-proud nerd. Admittedly a bit of a loner, Alex spends much of his free-time playing video games, but deep down, what he wants most is to reunite his childhood group of friends.
Lyrica Okano (“The Affair,” “Unforgettable”) Nico Minoru–tough, intelligent, and independent–embodies teenage angst. A budding “Wiccan,” Nico’s carefully crafted goth appearance isolates her from her peers and family, but maybe what she really needs is someone to talk to.
Virginia Gardner (“Goat,” “Little Bitches”) as Karolina Dean, model-perfect exterior with a lot going on behind her professionally whitened smile, is burdened by the lofty expectations and responsibilities put upon her by her parents. Underneath her veneer of privilege and perfection, Karolina is experiencing a newfound eagerness to explore her identity and pursue her own desires.
Ariela Barer (“New Girl,” “One Day at a Time”) as Gert Yorkes is a purple-haired, bespectacled, contemporary riot grrrl. Never passing up a moment to stand on a soapbox, Gert sometimes wields her persona as a brash social justice warrior to mask her true feelings.
Gregg Sulkin (“Faking It,” “Don’t Hang Up,” “Anti Social”) as Chase Stein is a lacrosse-playing, high school heartthrob. While many write him off as a dumb jock, Chase exhibits flashes of untapped brilliance in engineering, not unlike his wildly successful father’s.
Allegra Acosta (“100 Things to do Before High School,” “Just Add Magic”) as Molly Hernandez, the youngest and most innocent member of her friend group, is known for her peppy positivity and a deep yearning to belong.
Perhaps it should be no surprise that Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, of “The O.C.” and “Gossip Girl” fame, are behind the series. And with that in mind, weigh your expectations accordingly.
No word yet on a premiere date for “Marvel’s Runaways” but I’d assume 2018.
