The Marvel Show That Almost Was: Mr. Immortal Actor Remembers the 'New Warriors'

Remember New Warriors? You know, the Marvel show that almost brought Milana Vayntrub's Squirrel Girl to live-action? It’s one of those fascinating Hollywood tales that quietly slipped into the dusty corners of Marvel lore, a project that had so much heart and promise but never quite saw the light of day. But thankfully, ten years after its initial development began, one of its stars, Thuler – who was set to play the perpetually un-killable Mr. Immortal – has pulled back the curtain, giving us a precious glimpse into what could have been.

It’s a bittersweet feeling, looking back at a show described as "Marvel meets The Office," where a documentary crew followed a group of young, inexperienced heroes trying to learn the ropes. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series promised a quirky, comedic take on superheroics. Beyond Vayntrub as Squirrel Girl and Thuler as Mr. Immortal, the cast was truly something special: Jeremy Tardy as Night Thrasher, Calum Worthy as Speedball, Kate Comer as Debri, and Matthew Moy as Microbe. By all accounts, this ensemble really clicked, forming bonds that, as Thuler shares, have lasted a decade.

Recently, Thuler took to Instagram, offering a rare treasure trove of behind-the-scenes photos and insights. And let’s be real, these aren't just any old snapshots; they're glimpses into a show that was practically a myth for a while. He even noted the strict rules against taking photos or videos on set, especially of Milana Vayntrub in her Squirrel Girl costume. So, his collection? It might just be, as he put it, "the only footage from our shoot outside whatever Marvel has locked away in a vault." It’s a testament to his dedication and perhaps a little bit of playful defiance that we get to see these moments at all.

The show, despite reaching the pilot stage and reportedly being "hilarious" with an "incredible" crew and an instantly gelled cast, ultimately fell into what Thuler aptly calls "Hollywood limbo." It couldn't fit into Freeform's 2018 slate, and Marvel, for whatever reason, couldn't find another home for it. While Milana Vayntrub has continued to voice Squirrel Girl in projects like Marvel Rivals and other animated media, the rest of the cast hasn't had the chance to revisit their characters in the same way. Yet, the camaraderie persists; these New Warriors of Cleveland, Ohio, still keep in touch regularly, which really speaks volumes about their experience together.

It’s hard not to wonder, along with Thuler, how New Warriors would've been received had it actually made it to air. Would it have found its niche? Would it have become a cult classic? We’ll never truly know, and that's the melancholic beauty of it all. But even without airing, the experience itself was clearly profound. As Thuler fondly concluded, being a New Warrior, even one who never officially debuted, "was awesome." And honestly, after seeing these glimpses, it’s hard to disagree.