From September 30th on Netflix Luke Cage is available globally: it is a new TV shows produced by Marvel with Netflix, exclusively streaming on the platform just like it happened with Daredevil and Jessica Jones in 2015 (in the next months Iron Fist and The Defenders are coming too). Marvel Cinematic Universe extension on the small screen is not something new, though.
The first Marvel TV shows on ABC
After the success of The Avengers, on July 2012, Marvel started to consider producing some themed TV shows, in order to catch new fans and experiment new ways of entertaining its audience and fans. That is why, starting September 2013, on ABC Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was broadcast, a TV series based on the spying agency Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division of Marvel Comics, an organization dedicated to maintain peace in a superheroes and other super-humans world.
Then starting January 2015, on ABC Agent Carter was added, the story of a secret agent who has to balance her job with her role of a single woman in 40s USA. The series was initially intended to be broadcast during the winter hiatus leaved by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but it did not have great success, so that it was cancelled after 18 episodes.
Every TV show plotline is in continuity with Marvel movies and with other Marvel TV series, where the same actors appear.
Marvel TV shows come to Netflix
On October 2013 Marvel had four drama series and a mini series ready to scripture and sell to video on demand services or cable services: Netflix, Amazon and WGN America were very interested in the project, but a short time later Marvel and Disney announced to have closed the deal with Netflix, which would broadcast Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage (in 2015 the last two shows order was inverted) and a mini series about The Defenders.
It was decided that every show would have 13 episodes, except for The Defenders, with 4-8 episodes that would have closed the storyline of the other series. The Defenders will be a crossover TV show of the four individual shows, and it will be organically included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just like it happened for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: the final idea is that The Defenders will be included in Avengers: Infinity War.
The plot between Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist will be solved in The Defenders: they will meet in New York City after their own individual TV show, with the release expected to be in 2017. Netflix is supposed to utterly extend its Marvel mini-universe, given the public and critics success, and it will include an original series with The Punisher, who appears on the second season of Daredevil.
Daredevil and Jessica Jones success on Netflix
Marvel TV shows on Netflix have signed a dark side of Marvel, concentrating on fighting street crimes in Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York.
Matt Murdock is fighting injustices being a lawyer by day, and by being the superhero Daredevil by night: he lost his sight when he was a child, but his other senses are over-developed.
Jessica Jones is tormented with a traumatic past, and uses her private investigation skills to find her persecutor and save lives in Hell’s Kitchen.
Daredevil and Jessica Jones had great public success (just look at Netflix Stars in screenshots above), but also critics success: Daredevil has an average score of 8.8/10 after 220.000 votes on IMDB, while Jessica Jones has an average score of 8.3/10 after 100.000 votes. These average scores let us guess their appreciation by Netflix binge-watchers.
What about Luke Cage, released on September 30th on Netflix?
Luke Cage was already in some episodes on Jessica Jones, but it is the first time that an entire TV show is assigned to an afro-american superhero. Luke Cage is interpreted by Mike Colter, the new Harlem “defender”, who still does not know why he has superpowers after he came out of a bath, and does not know it it is legitimate for him to use powers and why. Watching the trailer, though, we get that: “This city is supposed to represent our hopes and dreams. You have to fight for what’s right every single day.”
This is Luke Cage trailer, whose season 1 is entirely available on Netflix starting September 30th:
Marvel Universe is expanding, and classic Avengers will be sided with the Defenders: which other surprises will Marvel Cinematic Universe will reserve us?
In the meantime, enjoy Marvel classic characters in their Tribe interpretations in USB Flash Drives and new Tribe Vibe and Tribe Move products!
