The Marvel Cinematic Universe officially launched in 2008 with the premiere of Iron Man, and over the last eight years has expanded to include more than a dozen films in addition to a number of TV offshoots. On Netflix, Marvel launched a New York City-based corner of the MCU with Daredevil in 2015. The show's first season was followed by season 1 of Jessica Jones later last year, season 2 of Daredevil earlier in 2016, and most recently, season 1 of Luke Cage. Marvel and Netflix have additionally planned seasons of Iron Fist -- arriving early in 2017 -- The Punisher, and the team-up limited series The Defenders.
Ever since it was announced that both Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Danny Rand aka Iron Fist (Finn Jones) were joining the Defenders corner of the MCU, fans have wondered whether or not Marvel and Netflix would eventually combine the characters for a Heroes for Hire series or storyline. Now, Colter weighs in on the possibility of a Heroes for Hire series, assuring fans it will happen "eventually."
While at Los Angeles Comic Con this past weekend, Colter spoke about the upcoming Marvel Netflix series, revealing he was heading back to New York City to begin filming on The Defenders, which was previously reported will begin production in early November. He said, "Finn Jones — I was just hanging out with him yesterday, so I’m going back to New York to start filming [The Defenders]." When asked about whether Luke Cage and Iron Fist will be going into business together, Colter said, "We’re going to be getting ready to do Heroes for Hire eventually. We’re going to do it."
In the comics, Luke Cage and Iron Fist formed Heroes for Hire, Inc with the help of lawyer Jeryn Hogarth (played in the MCU by Carrie-Anne Moss), contracting out their services for a fee. Other iterations of the Heroes for Hire team formed in the comics over the years, many times including Misty Knight and Colleen Wing -- two supporting characters in Marvel's Netflix series played by Simone Missick and Jessica Henwick, respectively. Elektra (Élodie Yung) and The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) have also joined up with the Heroes for Hire, in addition to Marvel characters from the ABC television series and the films.
Certainly, given the number of characters introduced in the MCU, especially the Netflix corner, it seems likely Marvel would explore a Heroes for Hire storyline at some point with Luke Cage and Iron Fist at the forefront. Whether Heroes for Hire would be a new series, or simply be a storyline within either the existing Luke Cage or Iron Fist shows, remains to be seen. But, Colter's words seem to hint that it's on the minds of those at Marvel.
That said, Marvel and Netflix already have a number of series in various stages of production. The Punisher series began filming earlier this fall and The Defenders will get started soon, both with projected 2017 release dates. However, Jessica Jones and Daredevil have already been confirmed for an additional season each -- presumably arriving in 2018. If Marvel and Netflix grant additional seasons to Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders, that'll be six ongoing shows. Still, with Marvel's Netflix slate after 2017 mostly a mystery, it remains to be seen how Heroes for Hire will fit in -- if at all -- in 2018 or beyond.
Next: How Luke Cage Sets Up The Defenders
Daredevil seasons 1 and 2, Jessica Jones season 1, and Luke Cage season 1 are now available on Netflix. Iron Fist will premiere on March 17, 2017, with The Defenders expected later in the year. Premiere dates for the newest seasons of Jessica Jones, The Punisher, and Daredevil have not yet been announced.
Source: Mike Colter [via ComicBook]