The Defenders To Have A Ripple Effect On Phase 2 Of Marvel/Netflix’s TV Universe

Like an orchestral conductor building toward a long-anticipated crescendo, Marvel and Netflix’s team-up series, The Defenders, is the result of four disparate and indeed reluctant heroes – namely Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Mike Colter’s hulking Luke Cage – coming together in the name of New York City.

It’s an alliance long foretold, and over the past few months, we’ve learned that not only will The Defenders take place over a single week, but it’s also been confirmed that truncated story will last eight episodes in total – down from the usual Marvel/Netflix template of 13.

And similar to how the cornerstones of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes broke off to headline their own individual solo movie after The Avengers, Marvel and Netflix have reportedly drawn up plans for new helpings of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage in 2018. But just as Age of Ultron and even Civil War shaped the future of their franchise, so too will The Defenders – albeit on a smaller scale, of course.

Here’s what Iron Fist actor Finn Jones told Digital Spy about The Defenders and its ripple effect:

Let’s just say there are certain events that happen at the end of The Defenders which are going to rock everyone’s world. So people aren’t going to be the same after the end of The Defenders […] Me and Mike get on really well, we have a natural good chemistry. The way that Marco’s written Danny and Luke is really clever – it’s not on the nose, and it feels relevant. The pairing feels relevant, which I think is the most important thing.

As The Defenders’ marketing blitz begins to round the final corner, Marvel and Netflix have deployed a brief new clip this week as well featuring Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), who discuss how their superpowered friends have left them vulnerable to The Hand. You can check it out up above.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview with Screen Rant, Woll noted the following:

I think it’s also good to remember that Defenders, because we’re bringing everybody together, it’s a little bit of a one-off, for lack of a better word. It’s going to kind of come together, solve this one big problem, and then you know we all have to go back to our own shows.

The Defenders begins on August 18th, and if it’s more coverage you’re after, look no further than our review of the opening four episodes.