Marvel’s New ‘Zodiac’ Series Is Drawing Comparisons to ‘The Americans’
Marvel Television surprised fans at New York Comic Con when it announced ‘Zodiac’, a brand-new live-action spy thriller headed to Disney+ in 2028. Marvel Television head Brad Winderbaum confirmed that filming will begin in London in spring 2027, with casting set to start soon.
The announcement arrives at an interesting time for Marvel’s live-action TV slate. ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 is set to be its final season, and ‘Zodiac’ marks the studio’s first new live-action series announcement since ‘Ironheart’.
Now, new details suggest ‘Zodiac’ could be unlike anything Marvel has done on the small screen. According to an exclusive report from Knight Edge Media, the series is being developed as a dark British spy thriller.
The outlet reported that the show’s tone will be closer to FX’s gritty drama ‘The Americans’. That comparison was reportedly provided specifically to describe the series. The report adds that the production is casting 3 British leads, 2 men and 1 woman. None of these characters are expected to have comic book counterparts, meaning they will be entirely original creations.
Marvel’s new ‘ZODIAC’ series has been compared to FX’s ‘THE AMERICANS’. (via: @KnightEdgeMedia) https://t.co/fJVutbabVd
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) October 13, 2026
The new details offer a different take than early descriptions of the project. Winderbaum previously told Collider that ‘Zodiac’ would be a globetrotting international espionage series filled with secrets, lies, betrayals, and a wild cast of characters.
Collider had compared the show to the James Bond and ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchises. However, Knight Edge Media’s report suggests the final product may lean more toward grounded tension than blockbuster spectacle.
ComicBook.com noted that early reports have also drawn comparisons to ‘The X-Files’, hinting the series could explore a variety of cases while building toward a larger mystery. Fans have speculated about a connection to ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ since the announcement.
The show’s logo features an eagle-like design resembling the S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem, and Clark Gregg shared the official reveal. If Knight Edge Media’s report is accurate, ‘Zodiac’ won’t be a direct sequel to that series. Any returning ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ cast members would likely appear only in cameos or supporting roles.
The final mission is coming March 28. The OFFICIAL TRAILER for #TheAmericans is here now. https://t.co/86PnU6wx58
— The Americans (@TheAmericansFX) March 12, 2018
Some fans believe the series might introduce MI-13 to the MCU. In the comics, this British intelligence group includes characters like Captain Britain, Blade, and the Black Knight. The team handles threats too big for MI6, including mutant and alien dangers. While nothing has been confirmed, the British setting has fueled plenty of theories.
Not everyone is thrilled by the reported approach. Some commentators questioned why Marvel would create original leads when it has a long list of British spies from its comics. Others are excited by the idea of a grounded spy drama. Many see potential for a series that doesn’t rely on major superhero appearances every week.
In the comics, the Zodiac Cartel was a group of supervillains who used astrological signs as codenames. How closely the series will follow that history remains unclear. With casting underway soon, more details should emerge in the coming months. For now, the comparison to ‘The Americans’ has given fans plenty to talk about.
What do you think of Marvel’s Zodiac taking a gritty spy-thriller approach like The Americans?
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