The Walt Disney Co. and Netflix Inc. today announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvelâs most popular characters exclusively to the worldâs 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 âDaredevil,â followed by âJessica Jones,â âIron Fistâ and âLuke Cage,â the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking Netflix members deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hellâs Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a culminating Marvelâs âThe Defendersâ 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 Marvelâs most ambitious foray yet into live-action TV storytelling.
âThis deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvelâs brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvelâs specialty,â said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. âThis serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in whatâs sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.â
âMarvelâs movies, such as âIron Manâ and Marvelâs âThe Avengersâ, are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels,â said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. âWith âHouse of Cardsâ and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and weâre thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude.â
This new original TV deal follows last yearâs 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.