Thomas Roach with five Marvel characters who should get their own Netflix TV series….
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding fast with not just films being released each year but now shows on television. Next year we are set for two movies – Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man – but also we will be getting our first Marvel Netflix show, Daredevil. Marvel announced last year that it had made a deal with Netflix to produce four series which would all lead to a Defenders miniseries. So far Daredevil is the only one in production, with actor Charlie Cox playing the title role. We are also set to get Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones series on Netflix over the next few years.
As well as the Netflix shows, we are set to have an Agent Carter TV series on ABC, as well as the continuing series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. On the film front we are also due Captain America 3 and Doctor Strange in 2016 and a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel in 2017. There are also rumours that we could be getting Black Panther, Ms. Marvel and even an Inhumans movie. I think that the Netflix series will become more prominent over the next few years and audiences appear to be engaging with television more than movies these days. Not to say that the film industry will decline, but the medium of television allows audiences to engage with characters for a great deal longer than they get movies. With that said, here are five Marvel characters who deserve their own Netflix series…
The Punisher
Marvel has the rights back to the character of The Punisher, who is much darker than many of the other characters Marvel has introduced us to. After his family is killed, Frank Castle hunts downs criminals and gives out the punishment they deserve. The show would likely have a great deal more violence than we’re used to, but surely Marvel could explore a much darker character?
A Punisher show would be bloodier, more violent and contain a lot of swearing, which doesn’t match up to the Marvel vision, but the character is popular enough having already had two movies (not counting Dolph Lundgren’s 1989 effort). Thomas Jane, who played the character in the first Punisher movie reprised his role for a short called Punisher: Dirty Laundry. Jane is presumably keen on reprising his role once again, but Marvel will likely recast the role to dissociate their version from the previous films. I think Jeffrey Donovan from Burn Notice would make a great Frank Castle.
Blade
There has been talk of Wesley Snipes reprising his role as the vampire hunter Blade but I think this would be a mistake. Marvel has a very specific vision and I don’t think the previous Blade films would fit into what Marvel has set up. A reboot will allow them to make their own version of the character, which would fit in a great deal better with the established world. I feel a show would be more suitable than films but that does not mean another Blade film would be out of the picture forever.
Like many of the characters on this list I think they will give us a very different look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We have already explored certain areas with The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy so opening up the potential for different countries and different treats could be a lot of fun. Without a doubt the character of Blade is a badass and seeing him take on vampires over many episodes would be a great deal more satisfying than a two hour film.
She-Hulk
With Marvel aiming to take on more female led stories She-Hulk would be a natural fit. With the Agent Carter and Jessica Jones series on their way the likelihood is that females will get more representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A Ms. Marvel movie as well as a rumoured Black Widow movie would also pave the way for more female characters.
She-Hulk’s alter ego is Jennifer Walters, who is Bruce Banner’s cousin. She gains the powers of the Hulk after he gives her a blood transfusion after she is injured. She-Hulk has much more control over her human side and has the ability to speak and is less of a brute than the Hulk. As She-Hulk has a lot more personality it would be easier to give the character her own series. Hulk has faced problems on film for having no personality when he is in Hulk form and this is not an issue for She-Hulk.
This may or may not require CGI to make the actress look taller and stronger but I certainly think it is not out of Marvel’s league.
Originally published September 14, 2014. Updated April 15, 2018.
