Marvel Studios, known for smash hits such as Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Age of Ultron, has dominated the big screen since 2008. Not content just to be the King of the Box Office, Marvel Studios expanded into television territory with 2013′s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (entering its third season this fall) and 2015′s Agent Carter (receiving its second season in January 2016). In 2013, Marvel announced they would be teaming up exclusively with Netflix to bring several street-level heroes to the streaming network, in the form of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist – with all series heading into The Defenders, where these street-level heroes would unite in a way reminiscent of The Avengers.
Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Dardevil, and Jessica Jones are The Defenders.
Earlier this year, Marvel made their Netflix debut with Daredevil, starring Charlie Cox as the titular blind protector of Hell’s Kitchen. The series was a critical success, and yet another achievement for Marvel. With a season two of Daredevil filming right now – and set to introduce the Punisher, in the form of The Walking Dead‘s Jon Bernthal – and Jessica Jones on the way later this year, the question is: what’s next for Marvel and Netflix?
Bernthal as Frank Castle on the set of Daredevil season two, now in production.
At the Television Critics Association press tour, Ted Sarandos – the COO of Netflix – was asked that very question, and he had this to say: “I think, ideally, there will be a rhythm of about every six months you’ll get a new season or a new series from the Defenders group. And then they’ll crossover into a combined season once we’ve launched the first season of each of the four characters.” That combined season would be The Defenders, where all the Netflix heroes would come together and team-up as a street-level version of The Avengers.
Jessica Jones’ series is on the way, Daredevil’s season two is currently in front of cameras, and Luke Cage – who will first appear in Jessica Jones – has a series in development with showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker. So what about Iron Fist?
“Some [series] will selectively have multiple seasons as they come out of the gate,” continued Sarandos. “So there will probably be two launches a year.” Acknowledging Iron Fist, which has neither a cast nor a showrunner, Sarandos said: “Hopefully [we'll hear about it] soon. It’s always a little extra complex with Marvel in announcing things.”
Conversation next turned to the Punisher, who will debut in season two of Daredevil. Real name Frank Castle, he first appeared in an issue of Spider-Man as a man-for-hire. Later, the anti-hero proved so popular he was awarded his own comic book series. Can something similar happen here, with Punisher showing up in Daredevil before gaining his own Netflix series?
“It is possible for sure,” said Sarantos. “That’s the beauty of the Marvel Universe. Any of them could spin out into films, too.”
As of July 2015, Daredevil is the lone Marvel hero on Netflix. But not for long: Jessica Jones is on the way, with Luke Cage to follow. It remains to be seen if solo Iron Fist and Punisher series will get off the ground, but it’s proving very likely.
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