Netflix on Marvel Series Release Schedule

Netflix’s Chief Compliance Officer Ted Sarandos spoke about the release of and plans for future Marvel series on the streaming service.

In the beginning, many believed that Netflix and Disney would release Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist as standalone series that led up to The Defenders mini series crossover event. Many, including myself, believed that we would get one series a year until 2018, when Iron Fist and The Defenders would debut together, effectively closing the mini series.

However, Daredevil’s critical and commercial success led to Netflix renewing the series for a second season, meaning many are left feeling either excited at the thought of more Daredevil, confused at how the series will be staggered, or concerned that this will further saturate the comic book-adaptation market.

Sarandos confirmed that the overall goal is to introduce a new series every six months in the following quote: “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 [Defenders] season once we’ve launched the first season of each of the four characters.”

As of now, Jessica Jones is filming to hit a late, but unannounced, 2015 debut. Luke Cage, starring Mike Colter, has a showrunner in the form of journalist turned author Cheo Hodari Coker. As of right now, Iron Fist does not have a star nor a showrunner. Sarandos did state that releasing and announcing information is a little bit more “complex” with Marvel involved.

Sarandos also addressed the addition of Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher in Daredevil Season 2. He stated that “It is possible for sure,” The Punisher could get his own mini-series. The CCO also stated that the “beauty of the Marvel Universe,” could allow any of the characters on the streaming service to spin-off into film.

This last statement is particularly interesting, as Marvel’s Phase 3 slate seems to focus on intergalactic, bigger budget affairs than the promised street level stories and tone promised in Daredevil and Jessica Jones.

The possibility of the likes of Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and the rest of The Defenders spinning out into film may mean we could see them as movies released on Netflix and not films fit for the cinema. This is the direction I would assume Marvel and Netflix would go, as it would allow them to tell bigger budget stories and adventures, but also in the vein of their familiar streaming service.