Something huge just happened. Like an alignment of interplanetary forces, Internet distribution giant Netflix have teamed up with Disney’s Marvel to sign an extraordinary deal. Fans can expect several original series focussing on four of Marvel’s biggest hitters, to start 2015.
The epic super-program – working title Flawed Heroes of Hell’s Kitchen – will begin with Daredevil, seguing into Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, who all have interlinking stories in the original Marvel Canon.
Jewel (Jessica Jones)
Just to clarify: Marvel + Disney x Netflix = MEGA TV EVENT!
The multi-season mega-series will play out across years of epic Marvel action centred around Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Netflix signed on to four seasons of thirteen episodes as a minimum, which may develop into more if the show is popular. Hmmm, do you guys think that an epic, original Marvel TV show is going to be popular?
Alan Fine, Marvel’s President of Entertainment, certainly thinks so. Fine said of the project:
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. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty.
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.
Marvel Television (who have been owned by Disney since 2009) will produce the show with ABC Television studios, as original Netflix programming. Netflix, for their part, seem pretty pumped for the upcoming TV super-event. Chief Content Officer for Netflix, Ted Sarandos enthused:
Marvel’s movies, such as ‘Iron Man’ and Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’, are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels. 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.
Iron Fist (Daniel Rand) and Power Man (Luke Cage)
The growing influence of Netflix as a cultural powerhouse is impossible to ignore, and this new deal will only bolster that reputation. Netflix also have further ties with Disney, having secured their position as exclusive U.S. TV subscription service for new releases from Walt Disney Studios and their subsidiaries (including Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm).
You guys, seriously, this could be a real game changer. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is already making waves on the airwaves, and Flawed Heroes of Hell’s Kitchen could just blow the lid right off. Soon everyone will be obsessed with superheroes?
Are you looking forward to Flawed Heroes of Hell’s Kitchen? Thoughts, feelings, suggested plotlines/sub-characters, excited keyboard mashing: let us know!