Disney's Marvel and Netflix Join Forces to Develop Historic Four Series Epic plus a Mini-Series Event
Disney's Marvel and Netflix Join Forces to Develop Historic Four Series Epic plus a Mini-Series Event Based on Renowned Marvel Characters
Landmark Deal Brings Marvel’s Flawed Heroes of Hell’s Kitchen, led by "Daredevil," to the World’s Leading Internet TV Network in 2015
Burbank, Calif. - Nov 7, 2013—The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) today announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvel's most popular characters exclusively to the world's leading Internet TV Network beginning in 2015. This pioneering agreement calls for Marvel to develop four serialized programs leading to a mini-series programming event.
Led by a series focused on "Daredevil," followed by "Jessica Jones," "Iron Fist" and "Luke Cage," the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking Netflix members deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell's Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a culminating Marvel's "The Defenders" mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.
Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking deal is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action TV storytelling.
"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," said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. "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’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," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. "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."
This new original TV deal follows last year's landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm. Netflix members can currently enjoy a wide range of Disney, ABC TV and Disney Channel films and shows across the 41 countries where Netflix operates.
I wonder who they'll get to play him? I know Ray Parks was interested at one time, but some might feel he's too long in the tooth. I actually like the kid who played Green Arrow on Smallville. Poor guys been relegated to Revenge the last time I checked.
At the TCA press event for Netflix, Mike Colter, who plays Luke Cage, said Iron Fist has been cast.
Quote:
"The actor has been cast," Colter said of the role of Danny Rand, "but he's in a basement somewhere," he joked. "When the time is right, they'll let him up and tell him where he is. I am [excited]."
If he is being serious then it shouldn't be long before we find out who.
In all regards, a Punisher series is just not interesting, at least to me. He's a vigilante, nothing new.
"Iron Fist" is an unique character featuring an unique appearance (one hell of a costume, if you ask me). IMHO, there's no comparison. Iron Fist is the one who deserves a series here.
In all regards, a Punisher series is just not interesting, at least to me. He's a vigilante, nothing new.
"Iron Fist" is an unique character featuring an unique appearance (one hell of a costume, if you ask me). IMHO, there's no comparison. Iron Fist is the one who deserves a series here.
They're both getting one. So it really doesn't matter too much.
I know we're happy about posting this, Walt, but it's not like "Daredevil" and "Iron Fist" are separate series--
Sounds like they're doing one four-episode mini, with a focus on each one of the Defenders.
(Years ago, back during the Curse days when I was actually reading the darn things, thought that might be the right way to go with the mythos--
Do a miniseries overview of MCU history one character at a time, and see how they interrelated. That was back when miniseries were big and nobody thought they'd get a movie; now it's the reverse, trying to keep the clutter of too many movie projects down.)
I know we're happy about posting this, Walt, but it's not like "Daredevil" and "Iron Fist" are separate series--
Sounds like they're doing one four-episode mini, with a focus on each one of the Defenders.
Umm....are you saying you get from this article that each series will be 4 episodes?
From my understanding, all shows start with 13 episodes, first with DAREDEVIL and then whatever afterwards as time moves on. I imagine this entire idea with the four storylines and the DEFENDERS mini-series to last around 3-4 years at least. '
In fact, the previous article stated how MARVEL was looking to shop 60 episodes to whatever network.
Marvel Will Film 60 Hour-Long Netflix Episodes In New York
Filming in the biggest U.S. cities can be incredibly expensive. Thanks to the costs of permits, security, and simple logistics, to actually film on location in New York City or Los Angeles is not financially feasible for many major productions. But most major productions aren’t backed by Marvel or Disney. Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a special, multi-million dollar incentive program created specifically to lure Marvel Studios to New York to film the entirety of its Netflix series of shows, That’s 60 one-hour episodes total, which will now be shot in NYC.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news. According to their report, Marvel and its parent company Disney were looking at several different places to film the five shows: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage leading to The Defenders. Since the stories are set in New York, and this deal was made, that’s how it’ll go down.
Each series will be 13 episodes, and then The Defenders will be 8. It’s described as “Marvel’s ‘flawed heroes of Hell’s Kitchen’” series. Filming will start this summer with Daredevil. (Hell’s Kitchen, located on the west side of Midtown Manhattan, was a fairly rough working-class neighborhood when stories were first set there in Marvel comics. Since the ’90s, however, it has been greatly gentrified and is very different from the place originally stalked by Daredevil in the ’60s and ’70s.)
We’ll update when there’s an official press release or more information, but the fact New York state would create a special tax incentive package – worth around $4 million – to lure Marvel to the city is unusual and exciting.
Updated with Full PR:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel and Netflix Inc. today announced that Marvel’s landmark live-action television series, which will bring Marvel’s “flawed heroes of Hell’s Kitchen” characters to Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, will principally film in New York State. Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking series is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action television storytelling and represents the largest film or television production project commitment in New York State history.
Filming is set to begin in the Summer 2014 and will create at least three thousand jobs in New York State including up to 400 full time jobs. The project will include nearly 60 one-hour episodes focused on the 4 Defenders characters: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.
“New York is where the entertainment industry started, and this unprecedented commitment from Disney and Marvel is further evidence that we’re bringing it back bigger and better than ever before,” said Governor Cuomo. “And when the entertainment industry thrives, it fuels dozens of other industries and businesses. The competition for these projects is fierce and Disney could have chosen to film these shows anywhere, but they knew that shooting in New York means getting to work with the best in world. These shows bring New York’s super heroes home where they belong–along with hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in new business.”
“Since 2008 Disney has directly contributed almost half a billion dollars to New York’s economy through television and film production, along with approximately 9,000 jobs for New Yorkers,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “The Governor’s policies make this great state a more affordable and attractive location, opening the door for even greater economic investment and job creation for New Yorkers. Our Marvel series for Netflix will inject millions directly into the local economy and create hundreds of new jobs.”
“We thank the Governor and the great state of New York for helping us create the ultimate backdrop to this epic series. Setting our production in New York City truly underscores the authenticity and excitement we plan to bring to The Defenders and their ‘flawed heroes of Hell’s Kitchen’ stories,” said Alan Fine, President, Marvel Entertainment.
Last November, Disney and Netflix announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvel’s most popular characters exclusively to the world’s leading Internet TV Network beginning in 2015. This pioneering agreement calls for Marvel to develop four serialized programs totaling 52 one-hour episodes culminating in a four to eight episode mini-series programming event. Led by a series focused on “Daredevil,” followed by “Jessica Jones,” “Iron Fist” and “Luke Cage,” the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking viewers deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a mini-series event in which the Marvel characters from the first four series team up as “The Defenders,” much like “The Avengers.”
This new original TV deal follows last year’s landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm.
“The Defenders are classic New York characters; smart, resourceful and tough enough to always stand up for what’s right,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “We’re delighted they’re coming to life on their home turf thanks to Governor Cuomo and his team.”
When Governor Cuomo took office in 2011, he made the attraction of the film and television production and post production industries, and jobs and the economic impact they bring with them, a key part of his overall strategy to grow New York State’s economy. Since that time, he has signed into law several important changes to both programs to make New York more competitive in this global marketplace, and the results have been significant. Both programs enjoyed record-breaking years in 2013, bringing billions of dollars in new spending and thousands of jobs into the Empire State. The stability provided by multiyear funding has particularly encouraged the development of television series production work, like the new Marvel series, as well as long term investments in infrastructure, all of which creates thousands of jobs directly and indirectly related to the actual productions themselves.
During calendar year 2013, applications for 183 film productions were submitted that included 124 films, 33 television programs and 26 pilots. These projects will:
-Generate a direct spend of $2.11 billion in NYS;
-Collect a projected $477 million in credits; and
-Hire an estimated 128,165 actors and crew for the 183 projects submitted.
John Ford, President, International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 52 said, “The men and women of the IATSE look forward to participating in this groundbreaking endeavor. Thanks to the vision of Governor Cuomo and the Legislature, the long term funding of the production incentives gives employers the comfort they need to invest in these new avenues of entertainment, which will provide thousands of new jobs with good wages and benefits.”
Thomas J. O’Donnell, President Teamsters Local 817 said, “Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 is thrilled that Marvel’s newest television series will be filmed in New York. This long-term commitment is an incredible accomplishment that will bring not just jobs, but also stability to our members work and family lives.”
RUMOR: DOCTOR STRANGE To Debut On Netflix's IRON FIST Before His Solo Movie
Quote:
Could we see the Sorcerer Supreme make his grand entrance on TV before the Doctor Strange movie next year? Apparently the plan is for him to show up in Iron Fist in some capacity, though it's not certain Benedict Cumberbatch will actually be playing him...
Like any rumor we'll have to take this with the requisite pinch of salt, but Bleeding Cool have been on point with some of their Marvel related scoops recently so it's probably best to pay attention at least. According to their sources, Marvel plans to introduce the character of Doctor Strange in one of their upcoming Netflix TV shows; specifically Iron Fist. They're not sure whether Benedict Cumberbatch will actually play the character in the flesh, but reckon it's a good bet that he'll "at least do the voice."
We know Marvel like to lay the groundwork before introducing a new character to the MCU whenever possible, and aside from a brief mention in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it's been all quiet on the Strange front. Granted introducing a major player on TV before his own film is uncharted territory, but if the plan really is to merge everything together for the Infinity War movies anyway, I don't see this as being too far fetched. Plus, Iron Fist is definitely the character it makes most sense to pair Stephen Strange up with.
Ryan Phillippe In Talks With Marvel / Netflix - Will He Play Iron Fist?
This morning on the Howard Stern show, actor Ryan Phillippe told Howard that he was in talks with Marvel for something on Netflix. The 40-year old actor is currently starring in ABC’s Secrets And Lies… and ABC is owned by Disney. The major role that hasn’t been cast yet in the Netflix / Marvel deal is of course Daniel Rand / Iron Fist, Phillippe would definitely be a name to lead the fourth of the planned series. There has also been a rumor floating around about The Punisher joining the Netflix family of originals… he would make an interesting Frank Castle. Or maybe he is inline to be a villain… maybe even Bullseye for the second season of Daredevil.
Usually when an actor starts admitting he’s in talks for something, the talks are pretty far along. Hopefully we’ll hear more soon.
Still would've preferred Dan Stevens, but both Marvel divisions have proven time and time again that they have a good handle on their casting decisions, so I'll remain open-minded.
I know he plays Margery's brother on Game of Thrones, but his role isn't really one that's stood out much to me in comparison to all the other characters on the show. I'm hoping he'll have the proper comedic timing for Danny's sense of humor.
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