Sci-Fi Storm

Speaking of Netflix and Marvel, the second trailer for Marvel’s Daredevil was released today, and seeing as how I didn’t post the first one, here are both for your viewing enjoyment…

It seems Netflix’s entry into the superhero universe was successful – it has renewed Marvel’s Daredevil, about Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer by day whose heightened senses make him a formidable masked vigilante at night.

The second season will debut on Netflix in 2016. Other upcoming Marvel titles on Netflix include January Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

The first of four planned serialized event series as part of a master plan between Netflix and Marvel will be Daredevil, a 13 episode series that recently signed a showrunner in Steven S. DeKnight (Smallville, Spartacus), and may have found their superhero star in Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire).

Deadline reports that Cox is likely to take on the mantle of the blind superhero Daredevil, otherwise known as Matt Murdock. Cox has been a hot commodity, with CBS trying to give him a series lead with two straight pilots, but neither have been picked up. Reportedly he hasn’t been announced for the role yet because he hasn’t officially been released from the last pilot.

This won’t be the first live action Daredevil however – it was infamously made into a feature film in 2003 starring Ben Affleck in the title role, and was pretty much universally panned by critics and fans. Prior to that, Rex Smith portrayed the character in 1989’s The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, a TV movie continuation of the TV series. It is also famous – it marked the first appearance of Stan Lee in a cameo in a Marvel adaptation, starting a long tradition…

Disney and Netflix issued a joint statement today about a plan to bring several series and a miniseries to Netflix based on Marvel characters, including Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron First and Luke Cage, over the course of several years, culminating in The Defenders, a “mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.”

“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.