With Avengers: Infinity War less than a year away, we are now counting down to the end of Marvel's Phase Three and (if we are talking rumors here), the possible end of few of the beloved characters.
But why talk endings? Let's talk beginnings! With November's The Defenders, Marvel has entered Phase Two of its new Netflix superhero shows and it's a very exciting time to be a fan. With this, we've got a string of continuations from some truly fantastic characters: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Punisher.
With the next season of Jessica Jones dropping on March 8 (and then the rest of them to follow in the next few years), it's time to talk what may come. Some conjectured items have been confirmed as real, while others we're hoping will never see the light of day.
And so, we present to you: 10 Marvel Netflix Rumors Confirmed to Be True (And 7 We Hope Aren’t)
TRUE: JESSICA JONES' MULTIPLE BADDIES
Let's start with good old angry-as-hell Jessica Jones, since she'll be coming back next. Unlike last time, though, when her fight was mostly with personal demon Kilgrave, this time Jessica has a few other problems to deal with.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, executive producer Melissa Rosenberg said: "Antagonists, plural. No one is ever going to beat David Tennant as Kilgrave, so you don’t do that. The biggest mistake would be to try to repeat that. You just go, 'OK, we’re not doing that, so we have this open to us.'"
Who these villains are is still a mystery, but people believe they could include Nuke from the last season and Jigsaw from Punisher. No one can erase Kilgrave from her memory, however.
HOPEFULLY NOT: HELLCAT
Everyone loves Jessica Jones, right? Okay, maybe not, she's pretty antagonistic, but no matter how grumpy this PI, her best friend Trish will always be by her side. But it's possible she might also be by her side fighting crime.
In the comics, Patricia Walker dons a super suit and becomes the legendary Hellcat, eventually teaming up with the Defenders.
However, we're really hoping this doesn't happen on the show. Trish is already awesome enough without having to put on a costume and fight crime. We love her in her investigative role and as Jessica' moral compass; in no way does she also need to go super. It would take something away from a truly strong character.
Everybody already wants to be "Patsy's friend," anything more would be overkill.
TRUE: KILGRAVE RETURNS
Loved the evil mocking selfish monstrosity that was David Tennant's Kilgrave in season one of Jessica Jones? Well, my friend, you are in luck, for he returns for season two.
We know what you're thinking. How? Jessica absolutely murdered him last season one. Well, just because she's gotten rid of him doesn't mean he's not still in her head. “He’s such a part of her construction and her dilemma,” Rosenberg said to Entertainment Weekly. “I think just having him come back and be that mirror again is really important.”
Be ready for more mental torture, Jessica Jones fans, it doesn't seem like it's going away any time soon.
TRUE: THE RETURN OF LUKE CAGE'S VILLAINS
We loved the villains on Luke Cage. They all had no powers except extreme ambition and a willingness to be evil (neutral territory barbershops be damned). They already built such a great world from season one, it would be a shame to leave them behind.
You're in luck. Already confirmed is the return of the ruthless Mariah Dillard, shifty Shades, and the maniacal Comanche (and we're really hoping that that former NFL running back Thomas Q. Jones finally picks up Comanche's legendary bow this season.)
Additionally, there will be two new faces familiar to any comic readers: Bushmaster (played by Mustafa Shakir) and Nighthawk (played by Gabrielle Dennis). Interestingly, Nighthawk will also be in the upcoming Black Panther, but played by a different actress.
TRUE: LUCY LIU DIRECTING LUKE CAGE
Just in case Luke Cage wasn't awesome enough, it's premiere will have a director who knows a thing or two about taking action up a level.
The great Lucy Liu will direct the first episode of the new season. She was spotted last June on set with Mike Colter and people assumed she would be in the show (and she still might), but it's official that she'll be taking the reigns on this one.
Her statement reads: "What a thrill to collaborate with Marvel and Netflix, two industry titans, who paint our world with inspiring stories and beguiling characters. It is such an honor to work with such a passionate and fearless team."
Liu has previously directed episodes of Elementary and Graceland and we can't wait to see what she brings to the Netflix Marvel universe.
HOPEFULLY NOT: ORIGIN STORIES FOR ALL
Origin stories can be great, but when done poorly, they take the mystery and mystique out of a character and boil all their eccentricities and amazingness down to a few moments in their past.
Yes, sometimes they can be fine, like with Luke Cage, who we saw go from prisoner to superman. However, with someone like Jessica or Daredevil, the less we know about their past, the more interesting they remain.
It looks like, though, both characters are going to get a deep dive into who they were as kids and how it shaped who they have become today. We're really hoping this one doesn't happen, though. Let these characters remain mysterious and focus on their present, not their past.
TRUE: MISTY KNIGHT'S BIONIC ARM
In the comics, police detective Misty Knight is just as awesome as she is on the show: smart, powerful, takes no garbage from anyone, and gives as good as she gets. The only thing missing from the show: her trademark robotic arm from the comics, created by the one and only Tony Stark.
Well, all that changes next season of Luke Cage. During an attempt to save Colleen Wing from Bakuto in The Defenders, Misty lost her right arm. The last we saw of her was in Danny Rand's hospital, recovering.
Now, Netflix has confirmed that she rocks the bionic arm in the next season, and we can't wait to see just how more amazing it makes her.
TRUE: MISTY CAMEOS IN IRON FIST
Speaking of Misty, Luke Cage isn't the only time we'll see her in the Marvel universe.
Netflix has confirmed that Misty Knight will have a major role in the next season of Iron Fist. While no details have been revealed, this is a very exciting moment for the fans. In the comics, Misty teams up with Iron Fist's Colleen Wing to form the detective agency Knightwing Restorations, aka Daughters of the Dragon. They frequently work with Iron Fist and Luke Cage to hunt villains and fight evil.
The two of them make for one of comics' best and most entertaining pairings and we can't wait to see them pair up on the small screen. This is especially true if they them team up with...
TRUE: IRON FIST CAMEOS IN LUKE CAGE
You know who is also a fantastic pair? Heroes for Hire, made up of the pair of Luke Cage and Iron Fist (and in the comics, actually created by attorney Jerry Hogarth, who plays a major role in both of their shows, so you know...) We love this team and fans have been asking for it since it was announced that Iron Fist was getting his own show. Luke's interactions with Danny actually made him almost bearable in The Defenders.
And guess who's coming over to Luke Cage for season two?
We watched them fight in The Defenders and now we'll hopefully get to see them fight together here. Again, no details have been released other than the fact that they will be together at least once, but we're really hoping for a long-term pair up that includes many smashed villain faces
HOPEFULLY NOT: TOO MUCH PUNISHER
The Punisher, released in November 2017, was easily one of the best things that Marvel has ever done. It was dark but realistic and showed the horror of war in all its forms, led by the intensely charismatic Frank Castle, aka The Punisher.
We're really hoping that we don't see him all over New York until his own season 2, however.
Rumor is, he'll make an appearance on a bunch of Defenders shows in the years to come before getting a season two of his own. Yes, he lives in the same universe as the rest of the Defenders and we've already seen him square off against Daredevil, but let's let him be.
Each character has their own issues to deal with without a dose of vigilante justice thrown in for the sake of a cameo. Give the man a chance to rest, please.
TRUE: IRON FIST'S PAST CATCHES UP TO HIM
In season one of Iron Fist, the protector of K'un-Lun, abandoned his post and negated his duty, leaving the city open for a crushing defeat by The Hand. In The Defenders, he was able to stop this organization and get revenge for what happened. However, not all loose ends were ties up.
We didn't see a scene of Danny's former friend, now enemy Davos during The Defenders, but that doesn't mean he's down and out. In an interview with Radio Times, actor Sacha Dhawan said about his role: "The crux of Danny and Davos’ story I think really begins towards the end of season one, and I think they didn’t want to start it straight away into The Defenders, and wanted to save it for series two."
In the comics, Davos is one of Iron Fist's main villains and fans felt a little cheated by his smaller storyline in season one. We know now, though, there will be more Davos to come, and with it, more destruction.
TRUE: DAREDEVIL'S HOLY UPBRINGING
We've already talked about superhero shows and their need for origin stories (if not right away, then seasons down the line.) It looks like we're definitely getting one for Daredevil in his next season, and it's going to lean pretty heavily on the church.
The last time we saw our horned hero, he was not dead (huzzah!) and in the care of nuns, while someone was calling for "Maggie." Presumably, this is Maggie Murdoch, mother of Matt in the comics. This is coupled with the fact that Peter McRobbie, aka Father Lantom from season one, will return for season three. Lantom is a giant figure for Matt Murdock, both in the comics and the show, and is clearly going to play a role here.
HOPEFULLY NOT BULLSEYE ON DAREDEVIL
Vincent D'Onofrio's terrifying Kingpin in both seasons of Daredevil was one of the highlights of the show, and honestly, we've never seen a screen version of Kingpin match the comics in this way. He's perfect.
This is exactly why we don't want the next villain of season three to be the rumored Bullseye.
We've already seen him done well when Colin Ferrell put the circled cross on his forehead. Don't rework arguably the best thing about that awful Ben Affleck version of the film. Instead, go for something new! There are a ton of excellent villains from the comics: the killer Typhoid Merry, the mesmerizing Mysterio, or Daredevil's original foe The Owl. All evil, all fun, all never seen on screen. Let's try something new, Marvel.
However, don't forget about...
TRUE: THE RETURN OF THE KINGPIN
Who didn't love Wilson Fisk's silent, creeping introduction in season one? Or seeing the power the Kingpin had, even in prison, in that short scene in season two. Every Daredevil fan out there was hoping there would be more for this character.
Again, Marvel has listened and answered with the affirmative: Kingpin returns for season three!
"We’re doing things that are just going to blow the fans away. We’ve already shot some things that are just going to be neat for the fans. There’s some awesome things that are very much in the history of Fisk and Daredevil, that people have been waiting for. We’ve already put some of that stuff in the can, and there’s a lot more to do," D'Onofrio told Collider. "I think they’re gonna be very happy."
Oh, we know we are.
HOPEFULLY NOT: CLAIRE TEMPLE AS WHITE TIGER
There is a rumor going around that Marvel has filmed four short pilots to potentially pitch as new Netflix shows.
The main one that seems to keep popping up: White Tiger. More than that, it may be someone we already know.
The rumor is that Claire Temple, night nurse extraordinaire who ties all the shows together, may pick up the mantle (and the white suit) of White Tiger. We already know she's been training with Colleen Wing (and took the tiger claw weapon off the wall with the line "I believe these are mine") and might just get a show all her own.
We do love the idea of adding a little more diversity to this superhero lineup, and another woman would be amazing, but like Trish, Claire is a great character without powers. She shows the humanity of the city these heroes are trying to protect. Making her a superhero may do a disservice to the great character they've already built.
HOPEFULLY NOT: OTHER NETFLIX MARVEL SHOWS?
So what are the rumors for the other three shows, if White Tiger is one of the four? Well, obviously, nothing has been released, but the word is they are Ghost Rider, Blade, and Moon Knight.
We've already seen Ghost Rider on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and in films, Blade is notoriously linked with the Wesley Snipes movies, so both would have built-in audiences. Moon Knight, who is basically Marvel's Batman, would be a fun hero to watch already.
So why are we against it? Basically, there are already so many superhero shows! Instead of adding more (and making it nearly impossible to keep up), let's finish the ones we have before moving on to something new. Please. Some of us need a moment to breathe!
TRUE: NO INFINITY WAR FOR THE DEFENDERS
You're all caught up on all the seasons of these shows and are ready for them to make a fun cameo in the next Avengers flick? You know, the one with all the heroes in it from all the movies? Well, except for the Defenders.
Just because Infinity War is bringing together everyone from the films to once again fight in New York, doesn't mean we'll get to see any of the Netflix heroes. Marvel Studios and Marvel TV are still very independent and it has been outright stated by Rosenberg that it won't happen.
Now, they could always sneak in a surprise cameo, which would be fantastic, but don't get your hopes up. For now, it looks like it's TV on TV and movies everywhere else.
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What rumors have you heard about the upcoming Marvel Netflix shows? Drop them in the comments!