Daredevil star Charlie Cox has opened up about the stunt work and directors involved with this summer's Marvel and Netflix miniseries event, The Defenders. The Defenders' premiere date has now been officially revealed along with a viral website for the MCU's New York Bulletin - teasing the events of previous Marvel/Netflix shows and hinting at what's to come in August, when New York's superheroes team up. While we're still waiting for a proper trailer, the increase in promotion means it's likely on the way.
Meanwhile, the solo Defenders - or at least three of them - are all set for new seasons that are assumed to be arriving within the next 1-2 years. There's no word yet on when Luke Cage season 2 begins production, but yesterday brought us news that season two of Jessica Jones is already filming. Earlier today, we also learned that Daredevil season 3 begins production later this year, courtesy of Cox. The actor was able to offer some insight into what went on behind the scenes on The Defenders.
During the same interview with Boogaloo Radio (via MCU Exchange) where Cox revealed that Daredevil season 3 begins filming soon(ish), the actor spoke about the production of The Defenders. One positive from the team-up show was less work for Cox. Given the grueling schedule of shooting a streaming show, especially one packed with action, Cox was naturally exhausted after each shoot for the first two seasons of Daredevil. This time, not only are there less episodes (eight instead of thirteen), but Daredevil is sharing the spotlight:
"Do you know what, when we filmed the first two seasons of Daredevil, it destroyed me. Defenders is slightly different because it has four of us. We can’t all be together all the time so there’s a lot more time off. The way it worked out is quite cool because since my character is the only one that has a mask, when we did action sequences they have to make sure they get the other three doing their bits because they could always use my stunt double."
Cox brings up another nice bonus, in that Daredevil's use of a mask means it's easier for his stunt double to hop in for the hard work. While the other actors also have doubles for more intense scenes, they're not able to pull off as many complicated scenes as Daredevil. While this is bad news for Danny Rand/Iron Fist (Finn Jones), it allows Daredevil to seem like one hell of a fighter:
"When DD does do some flying 720 flip kick whatever you call it, you can pretty much – because of the speeds that its moving in – film that straight on with my double whos an amazing martial artist. And it cuts really nicely. If one of the other characters was to do that, you would still in those moments be able to see [the stunt double] probably."
As for the team behind the new show, the stunt crew was all new. Cox's double Chris Brewster (who also fills in for Chris Evans as Captain America), however, will be back:
"They brought in a whole new team for the Defenders. But our stunt doubles all remain the same."
Meanwhile, the people behind the cameras are a mix of the directors from the previous Marvel/Netflix shows so far. In doing so, each will be able to bring a bit of their eye and style from the individual shows to the team-up:
"Yeah so they’ve done four series of 13 episodes, so the directors are essentially – from what I can work out – the A-team from those 4 thirteen hours. They got the best ones."
Cox hasn't seen anything yet, as The Defenders only recently wrapped, but he teased some of the talent involved:
"I haven’t seen anything. When I was just leaving, some of my bosses said SJ Clarkson, who did the first 2 episodes of Jessica Jones, she’s doing the first 2 episodes of Defenders and I was hearing very good things about that."
With The Defenders now months away and entering marketing mode, expect to learn a lot more in the coming weeks. And with Marvel and Netflix gearing up for next year's shows, there will be no shortage of Defenders-Verse news in the coming months, so stay tuned.
NEXT: How Iron Fist Season 1 Sets Up The Defenders
The Defenders arrives on August 18th, with The Punisher coming later this year. Daredevil seasons 1 and 2, Jessica Jones season 1, Luke Cage season 1, and Iron Fist season 1 are now available on Netflix. Premiere dates for the next seasons of Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Luke Cage have not yet been revealed.
Source: Boogaloo Radio (via MCU Exchange)