In 2015, the Netflix/Marvel Television partnership appeared to have a long future ahead. The shared setting that kicked off with “Daredevil” was supposed to be the television equivalent of the hugely successful Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has produced some of the highest-grossing films of all time.
But four years later, it’s over. On Monday Netflix canceled both “The Punisher,” whose second season premiered last month, and “Jessica Jones,” whose third season will stream later this year. They were Marvel’s last remaining live-action Netflix shows — “Daredevil” was cancelled in November, and “Luke Cage” and “Iron Fist” both got the ax in October.
So, what happened? Put simply, Disney and Netflix have turned from partners into rivals.
In 2017, Disney announced that its exclusive licensing agreement with Netflix would expire at the end of 2018, and that it was building its own Disney-branded streaming service, now known as Disney+ and set to launch later this year. Disney said at the time that the Marvel Netflix shows wouldn’t be affected by the change, but in 2018 it announced that Disney+ will be home to at least one new Marvel TV show — and people with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap that two other shows are being developed.
These new shows will hail from Marvel Studios instead of Marvel Television, and unlike the Netflix shows, they’ll be explicitly connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and will feature MCU stars like Tom Hiddelston (“Loki”), Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany (“The Vision and Scarlet Witch”), and Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan.
The end of the licensing deal already meant that Netflix no longer had any business-related obligations to keep Marvel and Disney happy. But now, Disney is directly-competing with Netflix — and in the process overshadowing Netflix’s Marvel shows.
Also Read: Netflix Cancels Last 2 Marvel Series 'The Punisher' and 'Jessica Jones'
But there’s also the matter of expense, according to an individual with knowledge of the matter. Though Netflix famously does not release ratings information, the individual told TheWrap that Netflix does weigh cost-vs-viewership, and that thanks to the unspecified high price of licensing Marvel IP, the shows were too expensive to produce given their viewership level. Marvel did not immediately reply to a request for comment from TheWrap regarding the price of licensing.
Attempts to iron out these issues ultimately failed. The abrupt cancellation of “Luke Cage,” for example, caught the cast and crew off guard. Netflix didn’t say why the Mike Coulter-led series was axed, but an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap at the time that the decision came down both to creative differences, and an inability to reach terms on a third season deal. Similar drama played out behind the scenes on the other canceled Marvel shows.
Also Read: Krysten Ritter Responds to 'Jessica Jones' Cancellation: 'I Love These People to the Moon and Back
Finally, there’s the fact that like most streaming platforms, Netflix is increasingly prioritizing content that it owns outright. Besides the Marvel TV series, which were produced by Marvel and ABC Studios, Netflix has trimmed its roster of other non-owned series including “American Vandal” and “All About the Washingtons.” That’s not only because in-house shows will always be available to subscribers. It’s also because original productions like “Stranger Things” and “The Crown” have become genuine cultural sensations (and awards bait), something only the first season of “Jessica Jones” managed to do out of all the Marvel shows.
After all, it’s why Netflix paid out giant sums of money to have powerhouse producers like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy make shows for them
But the former Marvel-Netflix universe may yet live on elsewhere. In a statement on Monday, Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb confirmed it was Netflix’s call to end the shows, and hinted that they may look to revive them on another platform.
“Our Network partner may have decided they no longer want to continue telling the tales of these great characters… but you know Marvel better than that,” Loeb said. “As Matthew Murdock’s Dad once said, ‘The measure of a man is not how he gets knocked to the mat, it’s how he gets back up.'”
Also Read: From Ryan Murphy to Shonda Rhimes: How Streaming Raided Top TV Talent in 2018
Marvel TV declined to comment if that was 100 percent the route they were going to take, but if they’re revived, our money for their new home is on Hulu, which just signed a huge four-series animated deal with Marvel TV, instead of Disney+. After all, Disney will own 60 percent of that streaming platform after it closes its deal to acquire 21st Century Fox’s film and TV assets.
Every Marvel Comics Live-Action TV Show Ranked, from 'Incredible Hulk' to 'Daredevil'
The recent high-profile shows on Netflix, ABC and FX aren't the first ones Marvel has taken to the small screen. Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Blade and even knock-off-ish X-Men had a go before the current golden age. Here are all the Marvel shows, ranked from goofiest pajama costumes to best character-driven dramas.
18. “The Amazing Spider-Man” (1977-79)
A 1977 attempt at a live-action “Spider-Man” is a fun throwback -- but in a purely ironic way because Peter Parker’s wall-crawling "special effects" are pretty cringe-worthy. Watching Spider-Man fight guys using extremely hokey choreography gives the whole thing a pretty goofy vibe.
17. “Spidey Super Stories” (1974-77)
Spider-Man takes on some super-boring villains. He goes up against The Prankster (a school principal who keeps pranking his students) and The Spoiler (who just likes to everyday things for people) in these goofy sketches in PBS’ “The Electric Company.” Worth a few minutes of watching on YouTube.
16. "Mutant X" (2001-04)
Delightfully 2001 in every way, the syndicated “Mutant X” is the knock-off "X-Men" TV show with a low budget a lot of people probably wanted. With obviously pulled punches and early CGI, “Mutant X” scratches an itch for a brand of superhero show that’s completely rooted in the world of 20 years ago.
15. "The Inhumans" (2017-current)
Nobody seemed able to get over bad wigs and CGI of "The Inhumans" when it first started, and the show didn't improve much from there. Thin plots and boring characters make this the least interesting of all the modern Marvel shows.
14. “Blade: The Series” (2006)
Spike TV took the successful “Blade” movies and made a TV show. It’s a decent precursor to the grittier Marvel takes that would later show up on Netflix. Violent, blood-splattered vampire hunting couldn’t hold an audience in 2006, though.
13. “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (2013-current)
For much of its run, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” has been more or less answering the question, “Hey, what are the normal people up to?” That can be pretty engaging, although keeping the show up with the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity on a budget sometimes reigns it in.
12. "The Defenders" (2017)
After four separate, individual series, Netflix and Marvel unite Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage and the Iron Fist to save New York in "The Defenders." The culmination of several series' stories and the combination of all four different personalities makes "The Defenders" a lot of fun, but the short series winds up confusing and a bit anti-climactic in its final few episodes.
11. "The Incredible Hulk" (1977-82)
Green Lou Ferrigno helped carry “The Incredible Hulk” through five seasons. The formula of David Banner wandering around America, getting into adventures and helping people, is pretty standard for TV. But there’s plenty of wrong-doers to trigger the Hulk’s rage and get him involved — for justice.
10. “Spider-Man” (1978-79)
A pretty deep departure from the Marvel Comics stories, the Japanese take on “Spider-Man” is worth a look just for the way Spider-man pushes a button on a bracelet that shoots out his suit. This version fully understands to folly of trying to make a serious Spider-Man thing in the '70s and goes gleefully the other way with plenty of self-awareness.
9. "The Runaways" (2017-current)
Hulu's first Marvel offering takes a different tack than its other shows. Focusing on a diverse group of teenagers, it's much more about a mystery concerning the parents -- who might, in fact, be evil -- than a bunch of people punching each other.
8. “Agent Carter” (2015-16)
TV gives Marvel the chance to dig into smaller side stories adjacent to its movies. “Agent Carter” takes that idea to its logical extent, turning out a period show led by a woman and Captain America pal. It gets to explore minor characters pretty intimately, while adding depth to the world when it comes time to turn on an “Avengers” movie.
7. "The Gifted" (2017-present)
Spinning off from the realm of "The X-Men," "The Gifted" starts out as a pretty standard superhero story. But with a family angle, some interesting and involving characters, and story topics that go beyond the usual "X-Men" fugitive angle, "The Gifted" is evolving into an interesting new take on the "X-Men" idea.
6. “Luke Cage” (2016-current)
Giving a different perspective on superheroes than anything that’s come before it, Netflix’s “Luke Cage” adds breadth to the MCU that shows how deep and interesting it can be. It’s also very aware of its time and place in culture and doesn’t shy away from the issues inherent in focusing on a bulletproof black man.
5. “Daredevil” (2015-current)
The first of Netflix and more down-to-earth superhero TV shows that take place in shadow of the Marvel Cinematic Universe does a great job of making Daredevil seem like a mostly regular dude. It’s also full of great, visceral fight scenes that pack an intensity that CGI can’t really achieve. And season 3 took the series to a whole new level, elevating it from simply fun to watch to legitimately good.
4. "Iron Fist" (2017-2018)
The first season was really, really rough in every way, but season 2 was a whole different animal. It's fun and adventurous in a way none of these other shows are -- basically masterful trash.
3. “Jessica Jones” (2016-current)
Another lower-key superhero story, “Jessica Jones” brings heroes and villains down to their very human flaws. The way it taps into and explores feminist themes gives a whole different take on the idea of superpowers in the Marvel universe.
2. “Legion” (2017-current)
Visually gorgeous, this slow-burn look at one of the “X-Men” universe’s most powerful mutants does, so far, a phenomenal job of exploring its anti-hero. The focus on the mystery of David’s sanity digs deep into what it’s like, and how to cope, with being a mutant in a way that’s very different from other “X-Men” takes.
1. "The Punisher" (2017-current)
The best of the Netflix Marvel shows so far is "The Punisher." Following the exploits of former soldier Frank Castle, it spends most of its time concerned with a bunch of characters struggling to deal with their own personal tragedies. It also has some of the better action scenes Marvel has yet put in its Netflix series.
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