Netflix Marvel Shows Are Now 100% MCU Canon
Marvel has experienced a major shakeup in recent years, with changes in the cinematic landscape prompting a great deal of restructuring from the entertainment giant. Projects such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Secret Invasion, and The Marvels each failed to impress critically (or financially, in the cases of the films) while behind-the-scenes drama with key figures like Jonathan Majors have demanded the studio perform a massive pivot with their upcoming releases. Now, according to Marvel Studios head of streaming Brad Winderbaum, the studio has adjusted their canon, accounting for all Netflix Marvel inclusions such as Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and others.
The Netflix Marvel Shows
Netflix first cut a deal with Marvel in 2013, which saw the streamer producing a number of original series following street-level crime fighters within the Marvel pantheon. While each of the Netflix series were connected to each other, with characters such as Luke Cage crossing over into Jessica Jones and The Defenders, the shows’ connection to the Disney-owned MCU was dubious, at best.
Marvel’s Defenders Could Help Buoy The Studio
In the years since Disney took over the rights to the Netflix Marvel characters, there have been a number of restrictive changes to Marvel releases. Disney CEO Bob Iger famously demanded a harsh budget cut for franchises like Marvel and Star Wars in the last year or so, with the intention of releasing fewer overall projects per year, so as not to dilute the market with too many outings. So while franchises like Eternals, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel may fade away, now Disney has the option to fill the void with more stories based on Netflix’s Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Defenders, and other series now cemented in the MCU canon.
Daredevil: Born Again
This was previously assumed by a number of fans after Disney announced the return of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, as well as a host of other returning Netflix Marvel actors in the upcoming series Daredevil: Born Again. Despite the host of talent attached to the show, the canon restructuring wasn’t completely confirmed until a recent interview with Marvel Studios head of streaming Brad Winderbaum. Winderbaum explained that the team behind Born Again wanted to dive into the character’s mythology and origins, while still building off the foundation created by the Netflix show.
As a result, the higher-ups at Marvel agreed to grandfather in the Netflix Marvel series, offering fans a fresh opportunity to dig through the catalogue
Born Again’s Release
Daredevil: Born Again currently has no official release date, though most insider info points to the series dropping on Disney+ in early 2025. With the news that the series will bridge the gap between the Netflix adventures and the MCU, this means a number of major cameos could manifest.
The Fox Heroes
A number of questions regarding how Marvel will grandfather in other franchises has been on everyone’s mind in recent years. Disney acquired the film rights to characters such as the X-Men and the Fantastic Four in 2019, leaving fans to wonder if those characters will receive new origin stories now, or be retrofitted into the universe. The fact that the Netflix Marvel show are now part of the canon could be a sign of things to come for those properties whose film rights Disney acquired from Fox.
