Marvel & Netflix Announce "The Defenders" plus 4 character series

From: http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/07/marvel-developing-four-original-series-for-netflix/214054/

What do you think GWC?

Original Story:

[i]Written By Amanda Kondolojy

November 7th, 2013

via press release:

Disney’s Marvel and Netflix Join Forces to Develop Historic Four Series Epic plus a Miniseries 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 miniseries 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]

I think, “yes, please!”

Powerman and IronFist? HellYeah!

Daredevil rebooted; Booyah!

Jessica Jones?.. Who…? Okay, after my time but hopefully cool none the less.

I’m excited to see what NetFlix can do with all these characters without the shackles of prime time.

My only issue is with the Defenders.

Defenders actually holds a really special place in my heart from the late 70s and early 80s when I first discovered them, and went back to collect all the back issues. Issue 4 with Valkyrie on the cover was iconic, and I still think of that cover when I think of the defenders. Moreover, that was my first real introduction to both Dr. Strange and the Black Knight. See the connection? Growing up as a giant D&D nerd, the Defenders brought together my two big interests at that time: comics and high fantasy. You had Dr. Strange (mage), Valkyrie (female fighter), the Black Knight (male fighter), and sometimes Hawkeye (archer) on the same team, as well as Hulk, Namor and Nighthawk.

Moreover, the team was dysfunctional. Namor has the typical distain for surface dwellers, Hulk had a “Bah, puny humans” mentality, and Dr. Strange tried to keep it all from going sideways. Hulk actually summed it up pretty well once: “‘Stupid Magician. Fish-Man. Shiny-Head. Sword-Girl. Bird-Nose. Cat-Girl. And Hulk. Hulk was on team once … called Avengers. Didn’t like it.’

Now I know just like with any Marvel team there has been a ton of rotation, but for me, calling any team the Defenders without having Dr. Strange, Namor and the Hulk is wrong. Nuff’ Said True Believers!