Marvel and Disney’s attempt to create a relatively unified Marvel Cinematic Universe across television and films was unique when it first started to unfold and has proven to be visionary since. While Iron Man and The Avengers began to clean up on the big screen, Marvel’s collaboration with Netflix and network TV has brought a number of its popular and lesser-known characters to prominence. And slowly, its Netflix-based version of The Defenders lineup has come to fruition.
Starting with Daredevil and continuing with Jessica Jones, as well as the forthcoming Iron Fist and Luke Cage series, Netflix’s little corner of the MCU has continued to intrigue and thrill Marvel devotees – and tease a larger connection between its conjoined, but separated worlds. Daredevil’s second season recently debuted with the popular additions of Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) and Elektra (Elodie Yung). As fans wonder what’s next for Netflix’s first superhero, Daredevil, Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock) has some big news about the future of the Defenders.
At a special two-day Netflix event in Paris, set to feature some of the companies brightest stars and most popular shows, Cox fielded questions about the possibility of a third Daredevil season (via The Independent). The Daredevil actor remains uncertain about the show’s future, saying, “We don’t know if there’s going to be a season three. I certainly don’t know.” On the other hand, the actor announced some very exciting news about the conjoined Netflix Defenders series:
“What we do know is at the end of this year we’re going to be making The Defenders and, of course, Daredevil is very much a part of that foursome. I have no idea what the storyline is going to be for that show. I’m very excited to see how those world’s combine… and interested to see tonally how those shows become one.”
In lieu of the uncertainty around another Daredevil season, especially with outstanding story arcs, led Cox to speculate about the possibility of The Defenders tying up certain loose ends from Daredevil season 2:
“In terms of wrapping up any storylines, maybe they’ll do some of that in The Defenders. Or maybe they won’t.”
At present, Neflix has slated Luke Cage for release at the end of September. The streaming service is also about to begin production on the Iron Fist series with actor Finn Jones (Game of Thrones) as Danny Rand. In addition, the next chapter of Jessica Jones has been announced, but its release date is currently unknown. A possible Punisher series has been rumored, but Marvel/Netflix haven’t made anything official yet.
A Defenders series has long been in the works, but Cox’s reveal is the first news of forward progress on the series. Although Marvel fans have yet to see Danny Rand’s Iron Fist, Luke Cage already had a recurring role on Jessica Jones and is well integrated into the Netflix’s corner of the MCU. The culmination of this grittier Defenders series offers a lot of interesting potentials – especially with Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) still active (if not entirely at large) and a wealth of other villains like Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali – already aboard for Luke Cage), Jigsaw, Chameleon, and The Masters of Evil, among others, as potential menaces. Hopefully, The Defenders series will also feature more of popular characters like Frank Castle and Elektra , seeing as both characters featured prominently in Daredevil’s second season, as well as other popular recurring characters – like and “Trish” Walker (Rachael Taylor) and Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard).
At this point, the future adventures of The Defenders are very much open to speculation, though. Initial hopes of a joint television-based Defenders story may be dashed due to the separation of providers – between Netflix, ABC (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, and upcoming network-based series like Marvel’s Most Wanted), and Cloak and Dagger (coming soon on Freeform)). It also remains to be seen what role the Defenders, in either their Netflix incarnation or otherwise, will play in any future MCU movie releases.
NEXT: Luke Cage Season 1 Teaser
Daredevil season 1 & 2 and Jessica Jones season 1 are now available on Netflix. Luke Cage season 1 will arrive on September 30th, 2016. Release dates for Jessica Jones season 2, Iron Fist, and The Defenders on Netflix have not yet been announced.
