Footage from a cancelled pilot of The Great Lakes Avengers has surfaced, offering a first look at a lost piece of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. the half-hour comedy was originally developed for Freeform and featured Milana Vayntrub as Squirrel Girl.
Milana Vayntrub’s Practical Tail and the Leaked Footage
After eight years of silence, a cast member has released unauthorized behind-the-scenes videos and images from the unaired pilot of The Great Lakes Avengers. According to the report, this footage provides the most detailed look to date at Milana Vayntrub performing as Doreen Green, better known as Squirrel Girl. The clips highlight the use of a massive practical tail and the intricate puppetry used to bring the character's squirrel minions to life.
The leaked material also showcases the costume for Night Thrasher and scenes set in Cleveland. In one sequence, the team is seen performing non-heroic community service while actor Keith David observes them from a park bench, emphasizing the show's grounded, comedic tone.
The Mockumentary Style and the Workplace Comedy Angle
The pilot for The Great Lakes Avengers was designed as a half-hour workplace comedy, utilizing a mockumentary style similar to the format used by NBC's hit comedies. As the report says, the series followed a group of aspiring young actors portraying heroes who were struggling to evolve into a functional team while learning to master their powers.
This stylistic choice represented a significant departure from the traditional cinematic scale of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.. By framing the superhero experience through a mockumentary lens, the production attempted to humnaize the "Avenger wannabes," focusing on the mundane frictions of teamwork rather than global catastrophes.
Kevin Biegel’s Allegations of a 'Too Gay' Veto
Despite a straight-to-series order from Freeform and positive feedback from corporate executives, The Great Lakes Avengers never made it to air. the cancellation became a point of contention when showrunner Kevin Biegel alleged that a specific Marvel executive blocked the series because the conent was "too gay." Marvel has since disputed this claim, though the project remained dead in the water.
The internal conflict highlights a recurring tension within Disney-owned properties: the balance between inclusive, genre-bending storytelling and the perceived safety of a global brand. Milana Vayntrub described the eventual cancellation of the project as a "disaster," given how close the show had come to production.
The Disney+ and Hulu Rejections
The disappearance of The Great Lakes Avengers is particularly notable because it survived the initial hurdles that typically kill most television pilots. After Freeform claimed their schedule could not accommodate the freshman series, Marvel publicly promised to find the show a new home. However, the project was passed over by both Hulu and Disney+, the primary streaming outlets within the Disney umbrella.
This failure to secure a slot on Disney+ or Hulu suggests that the project's "genre-bending" nature may have been too risky for the streaming platfoms at the time. The project's trajectory echoes a broader pattern of experimental MCU spin-offs that are developed in a vacuum only to be scrapped during the final corporate approval process.
Which Marvel Executive Blocked the Series?
While the footage provides visual closure for fans, several questions remain unanswered. Specifically, the identity of the Marvel executive who allegedly killed the series for being "too gay" has never been revealed. Furthermore, it remains unclear why Disney+ and Hulu—platforms that have since hosted diverse and experimental content—found the project unsuitable at the time of its development.
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