Marvel and Stitcher team up on first podcast collaboration, ‘Wolverine: The Long Night’
Marvel and podcast network Stitcher released the first two episodes of “Wolverine: The Long Night,” Marvel’s first ever- scripted podcast. The podcast is available on Stitcher’s premium service.
Marvel and podcast outlet Stitcher sends X-Man Wolverine to Alaska in first-ever podcast collaboration / Victor Xok via Unsplash
The series is slated to as a weekly, ten episode series through Stitcher Premium and see a wide release across all podcast platforms in fall 2018.
In a statement, Marvel called the podcast a "captivating hybrid of mystery and the larger-scale fantasy of the Marvel Universe." Set in Alaska, the plot followed two agents on a fox hunt to find the titular character, who has become the main suspect in a string of murders in a "mysterious, corrupt town."
Marvel also said to better immerse its listeners in the world, some outdoor scenes were actually shot in forests and cabins. Further, the characters were recorded in an fully surround-sound room, "allowing them to move, interact, with one another, and fully inhabit their characters."
Show writer and comic book author Ben Percy said, “This is a story about deception, unreliability, identity, atonement, and man in the wild and the wild in man. Every character has a secret." he added. "Every scene has a question mark at the end of it. And I can't wait for you to hear the phenomenal actors who have brought the story to life -- and the next-level sound design that make this audio drama like nothing you've ever heard. SNIKT!”
In addition to Percy, Stitcher and Marvel have assembled a production team of podcasting and comic veterans, including director Brendan Baker (formerly a producer for Radiotopia’s “Love & Radio”), and sound designer Chloe Prasinos (formerly a producer for Gimlet’s “Reply All”). The series was produced by Daniel Fink of Marvel and Jenny Radelet of Stitcher.
Baker said, "It’s been an honor to work with Marvel, Stitcher, and our entire cast and production crew to bring Wolverine’s story into audio. I’m so proud of what we’ve made together, and can’t wait to finally share it—with Marvel fans and podcast fans alike. So put on a nice pair of headphones, close your eyes, and experience this Marvel story where you create the pictures in your mind."
Added Dan Silver, vice president, head of platforms and content for Marvel New Media, “We are excited to officially launch ’Wolverine: The Long Night’ and bring a truly unique storytelling experience to our fans. We are thrilled with the enthusiasm for this project from our fans and the podcast community, and look forward to exploring the medium in the future.”