20th Century FoxTalk about super news.
Netflix is officially entering the superhero business after the online streaming site announced that it is teaming up with Marvel for four live-action series that will debut in 2015. Wait, it gets even better! All of the series will lead up to one big miniseries event titled "The Defenders." Go on, have a nerdgasm. We'll wait!
The four heroes who landed their own series are Daredevil, who was famously played by new Batman Ben Affleck in a film adaptation, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, with their respective shows launching in that order. The first series, centering on Daredevil, will launch in 2015 with 13 episodes.
"This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel's brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling," Marvel Entertainment president Alan Fine said in a statement. "This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what's sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure."
This isn's Marvel's first foray into a series with its superheroes (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was picked up for a full season by ABC), but it is definitely their most ambitious move yet. It's also a big get for Netflix, who is starting to give the networks a serious run for their money thanks to the success of their original programming such as House of Lies and Orange Is the New Black.
Of the partnership, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said, "With House of Cards and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we're thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude."