One of the biggest questions regarding the handful of upcoming Marvel Netflix shows has been whether or not they would exist within the expansive, interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve known since their initial announcement that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage would connect to each other, leading into a team-up miniseries event called The Defenders, but had no word on whether or not we would ever see these characters fight alongside the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, or the rest of the Avengers.
Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada recently appeared on the Fat Man On Batman podcast, and revealed that the shows will in fact share the same universe as the films, saying:
“There will be some interconnectivity, much like the movies. They will exist within the cinematic universe again, so this is all the same world as S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers.”
This news isn’t at all surprising and was honestly kind of expected. Still, it’s nice to have official confirmation. It makes sense that Marvel would use these shows to tell new stories within the MCU, focusing on heroes that may not wind up in the films. However, if the shows prove successful, there is now the chance that crossovers could happen somewhere down the line.
Quesada also talked a bit about the approach to the new shows, which stand to be far different than what we’re seeing on the big screen. Characters like Daredevil and Luke Cage are more “grounded” than someone like Thor or the Hulk, and it sounds like the shows will utilize that approach:
“Although these are superhero stories, this is different now. This is the street level…this is the street level noir side of the Marvel Universe. Something that you haven’t really, really seen in any of our Marvel movies. And probably more ground level, than I think you’ve seen. This is not like us doing Batman, Dark Knight or any of that stuff. This is very Marvel doing street level superheroes.
We’re shooting in New York. That’s the fantastic thing about it is that we’re shooting at home. We’re shooting where these characters belong. These stories take place in Hell’s Kitchen… [and the set] smells of dark alley, vomit, and piss.”
He notes that things are moving ahead smoothly, that casting should star soon, and calls the incoming scripts “pretty fantastic,” “really emotional,” and “very, very original.”
Tell us, what do you think of this news? Are you excited to hear that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage will exist within the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe? Sound off below!