Marvel and Netflix Join to Bring 'The Defenders' to Your Television Starting in 2015

Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist Get Their Own Series in Blockbuster Deal

In the never-ending rivalry of comic book publishers, now multimedia conglomerates, comes the latest volley from Marvel Television and Disney. It has partnered with the giant subscription streaming service, Netflix, to produce four original series over several years that will lead to a team-up mini-series. The tactic is similar in how Marvel approached their movie franchises. The heroes reside in Hell's Kitchen and fans will finally get to see 'Daredevil', 'Luke Cage', 'Jessica Jones', and 'Iron Fist' in live-action and together as 'The Defenders' in the proposed mini-series. This is by far the biggest commitment for both entities in the creation of original programming for digital streaming. 

Netflix has already made an indelible mark by not only producing popular, critically-acclaimed original programming like 'House of Cards' and 'Orange is the New Black', but also garnered the attention of the television academy with multiple Emmy nominations. It has created a new viable marketplace for new television programs much like HBO has for cable. It already has first-run agreements with Disney and all their properties, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney so this news shouldn't be so shocking but it is for the fact that Marvel is bringing so many of these beloved characters to screen and committing to years of production in a new medium. The joint venture will allow both parties to share the cost of the project which should lead to quality production values beyond what Marvel would normally spend on their own. Netflix is still expanding their reach around the world and it makes sense to partner with a brand like Marvel that already has a popular global presence. The ramifications of the deal financially could be astronomical.

The 13-episode seasons will begin with Daredevil in 2015 and the others in subsequent years.  The blind lawyer turned superhero had an underwhelming theatrical release in 2003 starring Ben Affleck who'll make his debut as the new Batman also in 2015. I have a feeling the new Daredevil will get a much better launch this time around. In the hands of Marvel Studios characters that were much maligned, either for previous bad box office (Hulk) or almost complete public anonymity (Iron Man) they seemed to find the right formula that led to great success. It doesn't hurt to have Robert Downey, Jr. as the face of your franchises either. 

This is the Golden Age for comic book related entertainment led by Marvel and it doesn't look to be letting up anytime soon. Between Marvel and DC there are at least 20 different projects that we know of over the next five years that will find their way to the big and small screen. This venture between Marvel and Netflix is just the beginning and the ones to benefit the most will be geeks everywhere. Let the casting rumors commence!

Here's the official press release and some character bios for your perusal: 

Daredevil

The son of prize fighter Battlin' Jack, Matt Murdock grew up in the relative poverty of Hell's Kitchen with much reverence for his father, who constantly pressed him to study instead of playing with his friends. In turn, they taunted him with the nickname Daredevil since he always went back to studying (or secretly training in his father's gym) instead of doing things with them.

As a boy, Matt witnessed a man about to be hit by a truck and pushed him out of the way but the truck crashed and spilled its cargo of extremely toxic chemicals into his face. He awoke in the hospital blind from the toxins and learned that his other senses were amplified as a result of his loss of sight and was able to see by a radar-like sense using natural sounds around him, giving him ultimate confidence in his surroundings.

As an adult, he becomes a lawyer and opens a law firm with Foggy Nelson while secrectly taking on the mantle of Daredevil in order to protect the citizens of Hell's Kitchen and bring justice to the streets as well as the courtroom.

Luke Cage

 Research scientist Dr. Noah Burstein recruits Lucas as a volunteer for experimental cell regeneration based on a variant of the Super-Soldier process he had previously used to empower Warhawk. Burstein immerses Lucas in an electrical field conducted by an organic chemical compound; when he leaves Lucas unattended, Rackham alters the experiment's controls, hoping to maim or kill Lucas. Lucas' treatment is accelerated past its intended limits, inducing body-wide enhancements that give him superhuman strength and durability. He uses his new power to escape Seagate and makes his way back to New York, where a chance encounter with criminals inspires him to use his new powers for profit.

Jessica Jones

Jessica was riding in a car with her family when they collided with a military convoy carrying radioactive chemicals. Her family was killed and, after spending several months in a coma, she was placed in foster care and adopted by the Jones family. Months later she awoke, stirred by the first coming of Galactus outside her hospital room.

Jessica later discovered that her radiation exposure granted her super strength, limited invulnerability, and flight (which she never fully mastered during her superhero career).

Iron Fist

At 19, Daniel Rand is given the chance to attain the power of the Iron Fist by fighting and defeating the dragon known as Shou-Lao the Undying, which guarded the molten heart that had been torn from its body. During the battle, Daniel throws himself against the scar of Shou-Lao, which burns a dragon tattoo into his chest. Having killed Shou-Lao, he enters its cave and plunges his fists into a brazier containing the creature's molten heart, emerging with the power of the Iron Fist. It is later revealed that there have been many Iron Fists before Daniel, making him the modern member of a long lineage of Iron Fists.