The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) recently expanded into its largest possible frontier with Doctor Strange. The reality-bending blockbuster deals with an inter-dimensional threat on a worldwide scale, pitting the Sorcerer Supreme against Dormammu and the Dark Dimension. This is the MCU on an astral level, where magic is utilised across multiple dimensions to save the lives of millions. At the street level, however, it's a very different story. Netflix's Marvel TV shows have delivered some of the MCU's most intimate and satisfying stories, despite their smaller scale and lower budgets.
Jessica Jones features Krysten Ritter as the inhumanly strong detective traumatised by the abuse of David Tennant's Kilgrave. It's a sleek and uncompromising series which relies on psychological drama rather than special effects. Daredevil, featuring Charlie Cox, by contrast has been praised for its incredible fight scenes, with a particular hallway-set fight in season 1 and a stairwell-set brawl from season 2 ranking among the best choreographed battles in all of the MCU. As different as these two are, Luke Cage is something else again, with plenty of on-point political text and at least a couple of great villains. Mike Colter played the hero in a hoodie that is Luke Cage, and wound up in dire straits by the finale of season 1. With Iron Fist, featuring Game of Thrones star Finn Jones, due to release this year, the impetus is shifting towards the group's inevitable team-up.
Entertainment Weekly has now released a first look at the upcoming miniseries known as The Defenders, aka. Netflix/Marvel's small screen answer to The Avengers. This week's cover of the EW magazine features all four of the standalone Defenders heroes on top of a New York taxi cab, with their individual titles emblazoned in retro-style (see below). They're also offering an exclusive first look at the set of the series in a new video, and the first scene that Cox, Ritter, Colter, and Jones filmed together as a group.
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The clip gives each actor a chance to elaborate on their character's backstory, acting as a reminder for the multiple series that fans have already seen, as well as teasing some of the chemistry to come. Charlie Cox points out that: 'Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones are quite opinionated and quite stubborn, and I imagine that will be a kind of fiery relationship.'
While Krysten Ritter suggests that Jessica Jones only fits 'reluctantly' into the group, Mike Colter doesn't weigh in on this discussion; his character acted as a voice of reason over the course of Luke Cage season 1, earning him the title of 'Harlem's Captain America'. It stands to reason that he'll act as the moral compass of the group, resolving the dichotomy between the apathetic Jessica Jones and the sometimes bloodthirsty Daredevil. Not much is known about The Defenders yet, other than a confirmation that Sigourney Weaver is playing a villain named Alexandra.
Finn Jones' comments shed the most light on the Iron Fist TV series to come, despite the fact that audiences have yet to see his character in action on the small screen. He claims that Danny Rand 'is the one that really knows what's going on. He knows how serious the situation is'. It stands to reason then that whatever brings these heroes together will debut in some form during Netflix's upcoming Iron Fist.
NEXT: The Defenders Confirmed for Summer Premiere
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. 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: EW