Marvel's 'Daredevil' Netflix Series Debuts this April

Marvel-ites your patience has been rewarded. While we've seen a number of images from Marvel's Daredevil Netflix series, and have known it would arrive some time in 2015, the exact date has been kept a tighter secret than the hero's civilian identity. Now as a brand new image of Charlie Cox as the "Man without Fear" has been released, so too have we learned when Netflix subscribers will be able to check the show out.

Daredevil will make its debut on April 10th as part of Netflix's impressive spring season lineup. Based on the Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. run of the long-running Marvel comic, the show also stars Rosario Dawson, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, and Vincent D'Onofrio. Here's the official synopsis followed by a new photo and a rundown of the other shows Netflix will be premiering. 2015 is shaping up to be a huge year for them.

Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios, with executive producers Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Drew Goddard (Cabin In The Woods), the series also stars Rosario Dawson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson.

Pasadena, CA, January 7, 2015 -- Netflix, the world's leading Internet TV network, today announced a new ten episode chapter in the adventures of Marco Polo and upcoming premiere dates for some of its highly anticipated new original series.
Marco Polo, the sweeping adventure that follows the famed explorer’s exploits in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th century China, will return to delight the global Netflix audience. Creator John Fusco’s tale of Marco’s journey will continue for 10 all-new episodes as Marco navigates Kublai Khan’s world of greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry. Fusco serves as executive producer along with Dan Minahan. Academy-Award nominated directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg also serve as executive producers. Season one was shot in Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Italy. Produced by The Weinstein Company, the series stars Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco and features Benedict Wong, Joan Chen, Zhu Zhu, Chin Han, Olivia Cheng, Tom Wu, Remy Hii, Uli Latukefu, Mahesh Jadu, Claudia Kim and Rick Yune.  
Netflix also announced upcoming premiere dates for the following new original series, all of which will be available globally upon release in all territories where Netflix is available:
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Friday, March 6, 2015
From creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, this half-hour single-camera comedy series stars Ellie Kemper as Kimmy, who escapes a doomsday cult and decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers, and a couple of way-past-due library books, Kimmy’s ready to take on a world she didn’t even think existed anymore. Wide-eyed but resilient, nothing is going to stand in her way. The 13-episode series, produced by Universal Television, also stars Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane and more. Fey and Carlock serve as executive producers, along with David Miner and Jeff Richmond.
Bloodline - Friday, March 20, 2015
When the eldest brother and black sheep of the Rayburn family returns home, he exposes the emotional demons that lie at the core of the family, threatening to tear them apart. With a stellar cast headlined by Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, Jacinda Barrett, Jamie McShane, Enrique Murciano, Sissy Spacek, and Sam Shepard, the 13-episode series is from executive producers Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler (Damages), and produced by Sony Pictures Television.  
Marvel’s Daredevil - Friday, April 10, 2015
Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios, with executive producers Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Drew Goddard (Cabin In The Woods), the series also stars Rosario Dawson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson.
Grace and Frankie - Friday, May 8, 2015
In this irreverent and touching series, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as Grace and Frankie, a pair of frenemies whose lives are turned upside down - and permanently intertwined - when their husbands leave them for each other. Together, they must face starting over in their 70s in a 21st century world. The series also stars Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, June Diane Raphael and Baron Vaughn. Created by Marta Kauffman (Friends) and Howard J. Morris (Home Improvement), the 13-episode series is produced by Skydance Productions and executive producers Kauffman, Morris, Fonda, Tomlin, Paula Weinstein, David Ellison, David Goldberg and Marcy Ross.

Kids and Family Originals
Netflix continues to expand options for families and kids, working with some of the best creative minds in the space to bring high quality, global animation and live-action series to kids of all ages. In the coming weeks, Netflix will launch new titles including DreamWorks Animation's The Adventures of Puss in Boots (premieres in North America, Latin America, UK/Ireland, the Nordics, Benelux, and France Jan. 16), Ever After High: Spring Unsprung (premieres globally Feb. 6) and the second season of the hit series Mako Mermaids (premieres in North America, Latin America, UK/Ireland, the Nordics and Benelux on Feb 13).

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Mike Colter Officially Cast as Marvel's Luke Cage

There have been primarily two African-American superheroes fans have been wanting to see hit the big screen for Marvel, and neither was the Falcon. The first was Black Panther, who we know will be played by Chadwick Boseman. The second was Luke Cage aka Power Man. While it's unclear when or if Cage will ever make his way into the big leagues, we know he's got a Netflix series coming up, and now we also know he'll be played by Mike Colter.

After his name surfaced as the frontrunner some weeks back, Colter has been officially cast as Luke Cage. The character will first appear in the series AKA Jessica Jones, starring Krysten Ritter. He'll then move on to his own 13-episode series sometime afterward. Cage and Jones are an item in the Marvel Universe (they even have a kid together), and it looks like they'll be attached at the hip here, too.

"During the course of an investigation in New York City, private investigator Jessica Jones encounters the enigmatic Luke Cage – a man whose past has secrets that will dramatically alter Jessica in ways she could never have imagined."

AKA Jessica Jones follows an ex-superhero with who gave up her crime-fighting career after a tragic incident. Now she works as a private detective solving crimes involving other heroes.

Colter can be seen now as Jameson Locke in the Microsoft original series, Halo: Nightfall. It will be interesting to see if his character makes the leap to The Avengers considering the clamor from fans who want to see it happen. AKA Jessica Jones will premiere some time in 2015 following the Daredevil series, which just debuted some new images of star, Charlie Cox, which you can see below. There is also a series following Luke Cage's best friend and partner, Iron Fist. 

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What I want to See from Marvel's 'Civil War' Storyline

I couldn't sleep at all last night, and no it's not my usual restlessness. Just before hitting the sack word came down that Robert Downey Jr. was joining Marvel's Captain America 3, which is a big deal but not half as big as the rest of the story. The storyline would apparently be the kick off to Civil War, based on the controversial 2006-2007 miniseries by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. So why was it so polarizing? Well, pretty much everything Millar does turns out that way, but in this case it was justified.

Civil War begins with a team that has not been seen in the cinematic universe yet: the New Warriors. One of my favorite teams from the '90s, they're basically made up of B-list characters like Speedball, Night Thrasher, Justice, and Nova...yes, the Nova everyone wanted in Guardians of the Galaxy. An incident during one of their missions ends with the villain Nitro blowing up an entire city, killing millions. The government decided to institute the Superhero Registration Act, which demands superheroes to register with the government, reveal their civilian identities to the public, and become deputized agents if they want to stay in action. Captain America gathered up a group of like-minded heroes to fight against the Act, while Tony Stark fights to enforce it. They came to blows, a war erupts, and basically Stark becomes the most hated man amongst the superhero community. Yes, Stark is portrayed as the "bad" guy, although there are points to be made on both sides of the argument.

It's a huge story, one that would require Marvel make some severe changes bringing it to the big screen simply because there aren't enough characters available. The X-men played a key role, so did Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. So assuming Captain America 3 will indeed begin the Civil War, here are a few things I'm hoping to see play out. And keep in mind, this would have to unfold over the course of multiple movies, that's how big Civil War is.

1. The Return of Spider-Man
Okay, this one's a long shot and more of a personal hope than anything else, but recent rumors have suggested Marvel and Sony could work out a deal allowing Spider-Man to be part of the shared universe. Peter Parker had an integral role in Civil War; in fact he was something like the moral compass at the center of it. He began on the side of Iron Man and the Registration Act, but as the government's tactics became more brutal he would switch to Cap's side.  It's possible we could see another character step in to fill that role but it would be more effective with Spider-Man, who everybody knows and respects.

2. The Death of Captain America
We've been saying it for awhile and others have noticed it, too, but the Captain America movies are conveniently populated by all the characters who have a role in The Death of Captain America storyline. That story was the tragic finale to the Civil War, with Cap assassinated and the Winter Soldier taking over the mantle. It's a crucial piece to the puzzle, and when I think about recent stories suggesting Captain America may not be factoring much into future films, it leads me to think his demise is right around the corner. This would be the time to do it.

3. Ragnarok
Tony Stark did some truly loathsome sh*t during Civil War, and one of those involved cloning his missing buddy, Thor.  Stark used Thor's DNA to create an all-powerful clone named Ragnarok, and he proceeded to tear apart Cap's team, even going so far as to kill the superhero Goliath, a former Avenger and friend of Hank Pym aka Ant-Man. If Raganarok appears in the films it would likely be in a similar way. We could see Chris Hemsworth's Thor too busy on Asgard to join up with his Avengers pals, and Stark comes up with Ragnarok as a solution. Whatever the case, the presence of Ragnarok is a good way to show just how twisted Stark's idea of right and wrong has become.

4. The Introduction of Blade, Ghost Rider, and Punisher
One thing about Civil War is that it includes a ton of characters, practically the entire Marvel Universe is involved. There simply aren't enough characters right now for Marvel to make this look like a huge "war", and one way to help fill out the ranks is bringing in popular characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, and the Punisher. Marvel recently gained their film rights back and this would be an easy way to work them in, possibly leading to future solo movies in the process. This one actually leads directly to my next hope.

5. Iron Man and Captain America Lead Separate Avengers Teams

With Cap and Iron Man on opposing sides of the Registration Act, both men began leading their own teams of Avengers. Cap's "New Avengers" (which included Luke Cage and Hawkeye) mostly worked underground and in secret to avoid confrontation with Iron Man's government-sanctioned "Mighty Avengers". With Doctor Strange and Ant-Man being introduced in the next couple of years, it stands to reason they'll be joining some Avengers team, probably one led by Iron Man. This may also be a good way to bring the Netflix TV series characters: Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones.

6.  Tony Stark: Director of SHIELD
One of the strongest repercussions of Civil War had Tony Stark taking over as the director of SHIELD. With the spy organization in shambles and Nick Fury presumed dead (we know better), now would be the perfect time for a move like this. It would also allow for Downey Jr. to make limited appearances in the films, and whether he appears on the show or not it may have a ratings impact on Agents of SHIELD. We saw the boost it got from being tied in to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the same could happen again.

So those are just a few things I'm hoping for, and some of them seem feasible. If I thought harder about it I'd probably include more wishful things, like movies for the Thunderbolts and New Warriors, the introduction of Moon Knight (he needs a film now!), and more. I'm genuinely excited to see where Marvel goes with this, and given their track record I have every reason to believe they can pull off Civil War in the epic fashion it deserves.

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First Images from Marvel's 'Daredevil' Netflix Series; Plus Rosario Dawson's Character Revealed!

This being New York Comic-Con weekend, now was a good time for Marvel to show off some of the projects that have been kept under wraps. One of those is Daredevil, the first of five Netflix series they'll be debuting on the streaming network. Today they revealed the first look at Charlie Cox as the "man without fear" and his look, at least initially, is clearly inspired by the character's most famous storyline.

The two images show Daredevil in the black, ninja-style outfit he wore in Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.'s Daredevil: Man without Fear series. It';s expected that the classic red outfit will appear at some point. The other shows us Daredevil in his alter ego of law attorney Matt Murdock, red shades and all.  Plus, some new cast members were revealed as well as confirmation of Rosario Dawson's character, which many thought would be Elektra. I never did, but I was still way off. Dawson will be playing Claire Temple, who will go on to become Night Nurse. As the name suggests, Night Nurse was someone who provided medical aid to the city's superheroes, usually for free. She's become something of a cult favorite over the years, possibly because of her soap opera-esque origins in the 1960s comic, Linda Carter, Student Nurse. Not sure why they decided to change her name for the TV series, though. What this tells me is that she won't be the same Night Nurse fans of the character are familiar with.

Other additions to the cast include Ayelet Zurer (Man of Steel) as Vanessa Fisk, the wife of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin who will be played by Vincent D'Onofio; Bob Gunton is Jim Owlsley better known as The Owl; and Vondie Curtis Hall will play reporter Ben Urich. If anybody complains about an African-American playing Urich I'll scream.

Steven Knight serves as showrunner and exec-producer alongside Drew Goddard, with Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson also part of the main cast. Daredevil should premiere on Netflix in 2015.

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Scott Glenn Joins 'Daredevil' as Stick; James D'Arcy is Jarvis on 'Agent Carter'

One of the most impressive things Marvel has been able to accomplish is attracting some pretty big names to be part of their cinematic universe. That wasn't the case when they started as the focus was on building up talents, and in some ways that idea has remained. But we've also seen screen veterans like Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, and John C. Reilly unexpectedly come aboard, and that is now extending to the small screen with two new additions to Daredevil and Agents Carter.

First up, Scott Glenn, seen most recently on HBO's The Leftovers, has been perfectly cast as Stick in Netflix's 13-episode Daredevil series. Stick is the martial arts master who trained Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Elektra, and his presence all but guarantees she'll be part of the show in some way. As of now her role has not been cast, although some think it could be played by Rosario Dawson. Terrence Stamp did an admirable job portraying Stick in the 2005 Elektra movie. Glenn is a tough-as-nails actor (see him in The Hunt for Red October, the 'Bourne' movies, and Sucker Punch) and perfect for the role of Stick. Probably the best casting move for the show yet. Glenn joins a cast that includes Deborah Ann Woll, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Elden Henson.

We've seen plenty of crossover between Marvel's movie and TV worlds and now there's going to be one more. James D'Arcy (Hitchcock, W.E.) is set to play Howard Stark's butler Edwin Jarvis in Marvel's upcoming Agent Carter series. If the last name Jarvis sounds familiar it's because JARVIS  is also the name of Tony Stark's artificial intelligence in the Iron Man movies (voiced by Paul Bettany), which was named after Edwin Jarvis. Oh, it's all so circular! In the comics, Jarvis is one of the few constants of the ever-evolving Avengers team. D'Arcy will be a regular character in the series, joining Hayley Atwell, Chad Michael Murray, and Enver Gjokaj in exploring the origins of SHIELD. 

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Deborah Ann Woll Joins 'Daredevil' as Karen Page

With True Blood drawing to a close, one of its stars is biting into a brand new role. Deborah Ann Woll, who plays the baby vamp Jessica on the long-running HBO show, will jump from that to Marvel's upcoming Daredevil series, taking on the important role of Karen Page.

Charlie Cox is set to play Matt Murdock aka Daredevil on the 13-episode series, with Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, Rosario Dawson in a mystery role presumed to be Elektra (I think she's Lady Bullseye or Typhoid Mary, personally), Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, and Peter Shinkoda as Hachiro. Woll will be playing the part of Dardevil's greatest love but also a source of great turmoil in his life. Page was introduced in the very first issue of the Daredevil comic, beginning as a secretary as Murdock's law firm. She would eventually fall on hard times and in the classic "Born Again" storyline she would become a heroin addict, turn to pornography, and desperate for a fix she sells Murdock's secret identity. It would eventually get back to the Kingpin who destroys his life. 

Steven S. DeKnight is showrunner on Daredevil with Drew Goddard writing the first two episodes. [THR]

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Elden Henson is Foggy Nelson in Marvel's 'Daredevil' Series

You may not recognize Elden Henson's name but you would probably recognize his face and the type of role he typically plays. If a film calls for a loyal if somewhat confused and misguided friend, well then Elden Henson is probably your guy, and he's filled that role nicely in everything from The Mighty Ducks to She's All That to The Battle of Shaker Heights and more. Now he'll get to play the best pal to blind lawyer Matt Murdock aka the superhero Daredevil in Marvel's upcoming Netflix series.

Henson has signed on to play Foggy Nelson, Murdock's friend and law partner, who often finds himself getting into trouble or helping Daredevil out of it. Charlie Cox stars in the title role with Vincent D'onofrio as the Kingpin and Rosario Dawson in a role yet to be revealed. Jon Favreau played Foggy Nelson in the 2003 Daredevil film that starred Ben Affleck and everyone (but me) hated.

Steven S. DeKnight is running the show with the first couple of episodes penned by The Cabin in the Woods' Drew Goddard. Henson will be seen next as Pollux in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2.

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Rosario Dawson Joins Marvel's 'Daredevil' Series

With Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio on board for Marvel's Daredevil Netflix series, the show could use a dose of starpower. Even TV shows could use a boost from a major Hollywood celeb, and Daredevil just got it with the addition of Rosario Dawson in an unnamed role that kind of sounds a lot like Elektra. Here's the relevant portion of Marvel's press release:

Marvel and Netflix are proud to announce that acclaimed actress Rosario Dawson has joined “Marvel’s Daredevil,” an all-new 13-episode series premiering on Netflix in 2015.

Known for her powerful work in “Cesar Chavez,” “Kids” and the upcoming “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For,” Rosario Dawson will play a dedicated young woman whose quest to heal the wounds of Hell’s Kitchen brings Matt Murdock unexpectedly crashing into her life, while her own journey forever alters the course of his battle against the injustices of this broken city.

Dawson joins Charlie Cox (previously announced as Matt Murdock) and Vincent D’Onofrio (previously announced as Wilson Fisk) in the critically-lauded cast of “Marvel’s Daredevil.”

Dawson will be seen next as Gail in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, and it's worth noting both Gail and Elektra are creations of comic book legend, Frank Miller. Wonder if he had any input in the casting? I also like that Marvel mentioned her debut role in Larry Clark's Kids. Amazing how far she's come since then.

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Vincent D'Onofrio is the Kingpin in Marvel's 'Daredevil' Series

Vincent D'Onofio has played a number of eccentric characters during his career, mostly those on the side of good like in his decade-long stint as Holmes-ian detective Robert Goren on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. But when he does play bad, like in 2000's The Cell, he's generally pretty good at it, which is why Marvel wants him as Wilson Fisk aka the Kingpin in their Daredevil series on Netflix.

D'Onofrio will play Fisk, who was last seen portrayed by Michael Clarke Duncan in the 2003 Daredevil film everybody wants to forget. Beyond skin color Duncan's version of the character was mostly on point with the comics, but D'Onofrio doesn't have the physical presence the Kingpin should have, indicating a different take on him may be in the works. Kingpin is being officially described as "a powerful businessman whose interests in the future of Hell’s Kitchen will bring him into conflict with the blind attorney Matt Murdock and his alter ego Daredevil."  Despite his girth, Kingpin is incredibly strong, agile, and a skilled combatant good enough to throwdown with Daredevil, Spider-Man, and Captain America. 

Steven S. DeKnight is showrunner on the Daredevil series with Charlie Cox taking on the lead role of The Man Without Fear.

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Cinema Royale #64- Maleficent; A Million Ways to Die In the West

On this week's Cinema Royale, Angelina Jolie shows her villainous side in Disney's Maleficent! Leslie "The Cinema Siren" Combemale will join us to talk about Jolie's performance as the infamous Disney villain. Also, we'll take a look at Seth MacFarlane's comedy-western, A Million Ways to Die in the West, starring Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried.

On the indie front, Jason Ritter calls in to discuss his new ensemble dramedy, The Big Ask, starring David Krumholtz and Melanie Lynskey.

All this plus news on Marvel's Ant-Man, Daredevil, Justice League, and much more!

Cinema Royale is part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network and brings you movie reviews and news straight from the Nation's Capital! Go to www.cinemaroyaleshow.com and subscribe, and while there consider signing up for the premium service for more content and to be entered in our monthly prize drawing!

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Charlie Cox Confirmed as 'Daredevil' in Marvel's Netflix Series

Over the weekend there was a good deal of Marvel craziness going on, and not all of it had to do with Edgar Wright jetting Ant-Man. On the same day word came down that Drew Goddard had left the upcoming Daredevil series developing for Netflix, only his departure was far more amicable than Wright's. And so it was only hours later that the capable Steven S. DeKnight had come aboard as showrunner, and now he's got his "Man without Fear".

Charlie Cox, best known for Stardust and HBO's Boardwalk Empire, has been cast as Matt Murdock in the 13-episode Daredevil series. Marvel has also released a synopsis for the show that will be followed by Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, and culminating in The Defenders.

Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the super hero Daredevil in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York City.

Cox has the look to play Murdock, and his Boardwalk Empire experience should have him ready for what should be a street-level noir detective series. Filming is due to begin this summer for release on Netflix in 2015.

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'Spartacus' Showrunner Steven S. DeKnight Takes Over Marvel's 'Daredevil' Series

Coming off what has been a weird 24 hours of departures over at Marvel, with Edgar Wright leaving Ant-Man and Drew Goddard exiting the Daredevil Netflix series, a bit of stability is starting to return. Marvel has now confirmed that Steven S. DeKnight, showrunner on the long-running Spartacus series on Starz, has taken over for Goddard on Daredevil.

DeKnight and Goddard were both colleagues on Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and they will be working together again in some capacity on Daredevil. Goddard penned the first two episodes and will remain on board as an exec-producer, suggesting that his departure has everything to do with his upcoming Sinister Six project and not some protest over Wright leaving Ant-Man.

As a fan of Spartacus who watched that show endure the sudden loss of its lead actor and still maintain high quality over four seasons, I'm excited about DeKnight taking over. Filming on the 13-episode Daredevil series will begin soon for release in 2015.

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Marvel Shake-Ups: Drew Goddard Reportedly Exits 'Daredevil'; More on Edgar Wright Leaving 'Ant-Man'

After all of these years that Marvel has been running like a well-oiled machine, suddenly it seems that the brakes are starting to fly off. Last night came the shocking news that Edgar Wright had exited Ant-Man, a film he had been attached to for eight years (!!!), over creative differences. And while there's more information on that coming out, Marvel may have just been smacked again as Latino Review reports Drew Goddard has departed the upcoming Dardevil series to air on Netflix.

So what the heck is going on? Let's start with Daredevil, although there isn't much else to report as of yet. Goddard, who co-wrote and directed The Cabin in the Woods with Joss Whedon and is attached to a Sinister Six film over at Sony, has left the project he was expected to be the showrunner for. He was also to direct and write the very first episode. Is this his way of lodging a protest over Wright's exit? It could just be that Sinister Six is eating up more time than he expected. Only time will tell but this is probably not how Marvel expected to go into the holiday weekend.

And more from Latino Review, who are reporting that massive rewrites on the Ant-Man script are what caused Wright to bolt.  Marvel execs far above Kevin Feige, who worked with co-writers Wright and Joe Cornish to fit the story closer with the cinematic universe, apparently gave the script to a number of other low-level writers in the Marvel bullpen. The result was a "homogenized" story that Wright couldn't put his name on, and so he met with Marvel on Friday and the formal announcement was made hours later.

The big question is why Marvel and Disney would suddenly feel they needed to run Wright off the project, and considering they are expecting to reveal a new director soon it suggests they saw this coming. My thought on the subject is this: Edgar Wright is too unique of a personality for a film Marvel sees as only a cog in the machine.  It's one thing to have Whedon directing the mothership Avengers films, but look at the other movies. Thor 2, Captain America 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, and even Iron Man 3, all directed by those who are either TV directors, guys looking for their big break, or those looking to make a comeback. Chances are that Wright's version still didn't quite gel with the larger universe, and Marvel already has one "black sheep" film in Guardians of the Galaxy. Why risk another so soon? Feige was apparently in Wright's corner on this one, and so is Whedon who showed his dissent in symbolic fashion on his Twitter page...

So there you have it. As of now Ant-Man is still on target for a July 2015 release and Daredevil should begin shooting soon for air next year.

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Disney and Governor Cuomo Strike Major Deal Bringing Marvel's Netflix Shows to NYC

Unlike DC Comics which use fictional places such as Gotham City and Metropolis as locations for their stories, Marvel sets the bulk of their action smack dab in the heart of New York City. So it makes sense that they'd want to set their upcoming Netflix series' there, and now they've struck a major deal with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to make that happen.

Disney, Marvel, and Cuomo have announced that all of Marvel's upcoming Netflix shows featuring Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Daredevil will filmed in New York City as part of a major $4M tax incentive. The Wrap adds that these will be 60 one-hour episodes, 13 for each individual character, followed by a four-to-eight episode miniseries titled The Defenders. Drew Goddard's Daredevil will be the first to take advantage of this deal with filming to being this summer. That means we should be learning soon who will be playing the "Man without Fear".

Daredevil will be followed by Melissa Rosenberg's long-developing Jessica Jones series, leading into Luke Cage and a solo series for his kung-fu partner, Iron Fist. We're even starting to get some promotional art thanks Marvel's Agent M, who released the above image on Tumblr.

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'The Cabin in the Woods' Writer Drew Goddard to Pen Marvel's 'Daredevil' Netflix Series

Disney/Marvel know not to break what isn't broken.  To say they've had a lot of success working with Joss Whedon would be an understatement, and he's basically overseeing their entire superhero line as it moves from the big screen, to TV, and now digital distribution through the multiple Netflix shows they have cooking. The first out of the gate will be a Daredevil series, and Marvel have chose one of Whedon's closest confidants to pen The Man Without Fear's adventures.

Drew Goddard, who co-wrote The Cabin in the Woods with Whedon, will pen Marvel's Daredevil series for Netflix. Goddard's association with Whedon stretches back to his writing episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and during that time it's likely the two of them talked about their favorite Daredevil comics runs.  Over the summer while doing press for World War Z (which he did scriptwork on), Goddard talked with Collider about his passion for the Daredevil character....

“You’re talking to a guy who had quotes from Daredevil painted on his wall while growing up. Even when I was 18, I still had the blood red door with the, ‘I have shown him that a man without hope is a man without fear.’ That was what I loved and so it’s the sort of thing that if we can find the right project, I would love to do it.”

Daredevil is the first of four 13-episode series debuting for Marvel in 2016, with Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage to follow. They will eventually culminate in a miniseries titled The Defenders. [TheWrap]

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Marvel Announces Live-Action Netflix Shows Featuring Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage & Iron Fist, and The Defenders

Marvel's domination over all forms of media is now complete. A couple of weeks ago a story emerged that Marvel Studios and Disney were shopping around a package of four TV series and a miniseries to cable and digital streaming networks. It didn't take long for them to find a buyer, either, as a deal has now been struck with Netlix to stream the Marvel Universe right into your home.

The ambitious plan has Marvel producing four 13-episodes series, and the most awesome thing about it is they involve characters we've been expecting to see on the big screen forever. The first series will center on the newly-acquired Daredevil. Next up is Jessica Jones, who in the Marvel comics is a former superhero-turned-detective. She's also married to Luke Cage aka Power Man, who is next up to get his own series, which will then be followed up by his pal, Iron Fist. All of this will culminate in an epic miniseries titled The Defenders.

It's a pretty shrewd move for Marvel, and as long as they find a way to make each series capable of standing on their own, there should be no risk of fans experiencing superhero fatigue. This also gives Marvel the chance to do go in some darker directions than they may have been able to on public television or in the movies. For instance, Jessica Jones' comic series Alias (one of the best written comics ever, IMHO) explored some of Marvel's nastiest corners and dug into the personal lives of heroes in ways that would potentially turn off general audiences looking for something less weighty. And let's be honest, we all just hope they turn out better than Agents of SHIELD, right?

So what do you think? Is this a good idea? Which show are you looking forward to most?

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Daredevil film rights revert back to Marvel; Will he turn up in Phase Three?

The hopes and dreams of fanboys that some day Marvel will be able to field their entire line-up of superheroes in one massive cinematic spectacle are probably never going to be realized, but the chances of Daredevil turning up on The Avengers just became a little greater. Back before Marvel smartened up, they licensed out the film rights to a large number of their characters. 20th Century Fox, who own the rights to Fantastic Four and the X-men, also had the blind superhero, Daredevil. After the Ben Affleck-led 2003 film failed to deliver, they've been trying to mount another one before the rights would lapse and revert back to Marvel. That obviously never happened, and now the character is back under the Marvel/Disney umbrella.


Marvel President Kevin Feige confirmed the news during a conversation with Newsarama, but nothing further was said on the matter. This comes after Fox really scrambled to put a new film together over the last year. David Slade (Hard Candy) had been attached to it for a long time, before ultimately dropping out a few months ago to helm NBC's Hannibal. Already under a time crunch, Fox reached out to Joe Carnahan (The Grey), who offered up a hard-boiled 1970s approach which was rejected. It was last summer we learned that Fox was willing to just let the character go when the October deadline hit, and that looks to have happened.

So what does this mean for the future of Daredevil? That's anybody's guess, but it's likely that Marvel will take their time and figure out the best way to bring him into the fold. Daredevil comes with a built-in fanbase and a tone that is more along the lines of film noir, which could go a long way in spicing up Phase Three. Right now we know that Edgar Wright's Ant-Man and a Dr. Strange film are part of the next wave.

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*UPDATE* 'Daredevil' film rights reverting back to Marvel

* UPDATE* Joe Carnahan has released the sizzle reel he presented to Fox for what he called his "Serpico-styled" take on Daredevil. The footage is a slick combination of grindhouse, kung fu, and blaxploitation, intercut with scenes from the Daredevil comic and the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck. I love it, but I can also see why Fox wouldn't want to go in such a retro direction. You can check out his pitch at the bottom of the story. *

Well, this isn't really coming as a shock, not after this summer's developments. Fox had been trying to get a relaunch of Daredevil off the ground in a hurry, due to the fact that they would lose the film rights to the character in October. David Slade had been set to direct it for awhile, but he dropped out, only to have Joe Carnahan emerge as as last second replacement. With Carnahan recently revealing that his take on the character had been rejected, it was up to Fox to try and either find a replacement or let the character go back to Marvel. Turns out it's going to be the latter.

We had heard this may be the direction Fox was leaning, anyway, especially after they denied a supposed plan that would have seen them trading a couple of characters back to Marvel in exchange for an extension. This makes Daredevil the third major character to revert back to Marvel's control, and the second since Disney bought the company in 2009. The others are The Punisher and Blade, neither of which have any films in development.

The obvious question now is what impact this will have on Marvel's plans going forward? They've pretty much laid out their plans for The Avengers 2, which will likely run all the way through 2015. But from there all bets are off. Daredevil doesn't fit naturally with the team dynamic, and in the comics only recently became a member. The 2003 film did well, but was considered a disappointment by many overall. Obviously, with the Marvel marketing machine behind him, it's not inconceivable to think Daredevil could be part of a successful reboot somewhere down the line. It just likely won't be any time soon. [Variety]

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Has Joe Carnahan's 'Daredevil' plan been rejected by Fox?

Uh oh, it looks like we may be talking about Daredevil reverting back to the Marvel Universe, after all. That's certainly where things seemed to be headed, as the Man Without Fear's film rights were on the verge of expiring over at 20th Century Fox, with the studio scrambling to find someone to get a production up and running before then. With David Slade out, Joe Carnahan(The Grey) emerged as the frontunner, and in recent days we've seen him talking up the project a little bit on Twitter...

Joe Carnahan   @manwithoutfear DD fans would be very pleased if they saw the things I've seen of late. Very, VERY pleased...

But now it appears the tables have turned. Carnahan again took to tweeting the film's progress, and his mood certainly changed.....

Joe Carnahan @carnojoe Think my idea for a certain retro, red-suited, Serpico-styled superhero went up in smoke today kids.

The most recent update said that Fox may be willing to let the character go, rather than getting involved in some complicated horsetrading with Marvel to earn an extension. Fox's rights lapse on October 10th, and even if Carnahan or some other director were to get the job today, it would be a tough turnaround in that short a period of time. It's always possible Fox has another director in mind, but it's doubtful. Carnahan would have made for a perfect fit for the character, and if they were truly serious about holding on to Daredevil, they'd probably be amenable to any halfway decent idea that crosses their desks. 

So does this mean we could see Daredevil as part of The Avengers in the future? Probably not right away, as Marvel also has regained the rights to popular heroes, The Punisher and Blade, and up to this point they haven't done anything with them.