“The Defenders” are coming – The cast and creators of Netflix Marvel series tease “Luke Cage”, “Iron Fist” and a team up series at SDCC 2016!
Executive Producer Jeph Loeb moderated a panel celebrating all of Marvel’s series on Netflix, with a special spotlight on Luke Cage. Actor Mike Colter got his debut as Cage in Jessica Jones last fall and joined fellow cast members Frank Whaley (Detective Scarfe), Theo Rossi (Shades), Simone Missick (Misty Knight), Mahershala Ali (Cottonmouth), and Alfre Woodard (Mariah Dillard) as they teased the story of the man from Harlem with impenetrable skin. Here’s five exciting things that we learned at the panel.
Jon Bernthal is “honored” to play the Punisher
Before Loeb could even introduce the cast of Luke Cage, the Punisher himself made a surprise appearance on stage after screening a special highlights mashup trailer of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and never before seen clips from Luke Cage. He demanded that they roll the trailer a second time, much to the appreciation of the fans filling Ballroom 20 to the brim. Once the light came back up Bernthal took a few moments to assure the fans that the story of Frank Castle is in good hands. “I know how much this character matters. I know how much he matters to the military and members of law enforcement. I take it as an enormous responsibility…I think that the Marvel fans and comic book fans are the greatest fans in the world. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the feedback. Frank, now, is in my bones.”
Loeb went on to say that a Punisher series is in production but no word on a release date yet.
Each episode of Luke Cage is named after a different gangster song
Series creator Cheo Hodari Coker joined the cast on stage for a Q&A. He described the show as a “Wu Tang-ification of the Marvel Universe”. Each episode is not only named after a song, but shows homages to rap artists in other ways. One of the scenes they screened features an art piece of Biggie at the center.
Daredevil has been renewed for Season 3!
Although it was hard to imagine anything less after that action packed Season 2 that featured the Punisher and Elektra, Loeb confirmed that Daredevil has been renewed and been moved into production on a third season. It will roll out sometime in 2017.
The premiere of the Iron Fist teaser
Following the Luke Cage panel, Marvel was not done with its presentation or surprises. Although none of the cast could make an appearance because they are currently filming, series star Finn Jones made a short video to be shown to the fans from set introducing the first teaser trailer. The series will be released in 2017.
The Defenders are coming!
Directly following the screening of the first footage from Iron Fist and with only minutes left in their slotted time, Jeph Loeb was not done dishing out the surprises. He said it was a good thing that we would be able to familiarize ourselves with the characters of Murdock, Cage, Jones and Daniel Rand because the will be teaming up to protect New York City in the first team up Marvel Netflix series The Defenders sometime next year, and then premiered the first teaser. It wasn’t much, just a logo, a little voiceover from Daredevil character Stick, along with a Nirvana song…but it was enough to get the entire room completely hyped.
It’s safe to say that the future is bright for all Marvel series on Netflix.
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