Marvel's street level heroes have proven wildly successful for Netflix, with Luke Cage coming out on top in 2016. The series was renewed for a second season, hinting at the introduction of Heroes For Hire and adding to the longevity of this corner of the MCU. Now that Iron Fist is on the horizon, 2017 is shaping up to launch The Defenders in a big way.
These heroes (and villains) are popular enough to warranted a solo Punisher series, which is also set to hit in 2017 with filming having started this fall. As the characters and stories begin to expand, the thing that becomes more abundantly clear is just how big of a character New York City itself plays in each series. Filming on location in the five Burroughs makes it easier to attract local talent, including someone like Sigourney Weaver.
Between working on several Avatar sequels and doing press for her upcoming film, A Monster Calls, actress Sigourney Weaver spoke with Movies.com about her role on Netflix and Marvel's Defenders. She cheekily describes her as yet untitled character as "really nice," while expounding on the fun she's having filming the series in her hometown of New York City. On The Defenders, she said:
"It has a wonderful cast, and we're doing it right here in New York, which means a lot to me. Basically the four heroes come up against this really nice woman, who I'm playing. It's been a blast and I really love my character. I love the shows, too, which I wasn't familiar with before doing this. [It's a] real love letter to New York. To me they're not superheroes; they're people with a gift. It's just a different scale, and I'm really enjoying the scale of it."
Weaver had previously described her character as "really smart and very in charge," adding that the villain was "delicious" to play. While there is still no information on who from the Marvel universe she'll be playing, there are some theories on what connections from elsewhere in the MCU suggest. Several secondary characters have been confirmed to appear from all four of the Netflix series, including another potential villain in Elektra's return.
Silver Sable, Madame Masque, Cassandra Nova, or even Bella Donna could all be potential options that fit the description Weaver has given. When asked if she had any interest in jumping onto the big screen in the MCU, Weaver's sly reply was, "I'm very happy being in the Marvel with a small 'm.'"
Daredevil seasons 1 and 2, Jessica Jones season 1, and Luke Cage season 1 are now streaming on Netflix. Iron Fist will premiere on March 17, 2017. The Defenders and The Punisher will arrive in 2017. Premiere dates for the newest seasons of Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Luke Cage have not yet been announced.
Source: Movies.com