Marvel has about a million shows on TV right now, and a million more in the works, but Runaways, based on the comic series of the same name, will be the studio’s first one featuring a young ensemble cast. After the immense success of shows like 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) and Riverdale (The CW), Marvel is about to cash in on that young adult drama train, and we’re kind of pumped.
Runaways revolves around a group of regular teenagers who need to band together for the greater good when they find out their parents are all working for an evil organisation called The Pride.
Here’s the first cast photo, featuring (from left to right) Ariela Barer as Gert Yorkes, Lyrica Okano as Nico Minoru, Rhenzy Feliz as Alex Wilder, Gregg Sulkin as Chase Stein, Virginia Gardnder as Karolina Dean and Allegra Acosta as Molly Hernandez:
And here’s a little breakdown of the characters, as posted on Marvel.com back in February:
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) 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.
Marvel’s Runaways is set to air on Hulu later in the year. It doesn’t yet have a UK broadcaster. Get all the latest superhero news with every issue of SciFiNow.
