Originally published July 27, 2017. Updated December 16, 2019.
We’re just a few weeks away from the arrival of The Defenders, Netflix’s Marvel crossover series featuring the street level heroes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Unlike the previous solo shows, The Defenders will run for just eight episodes, and Collider caught up with Marvel Television chief Jeph Loeb to ask whether that was a financial decision:
“No it had nothing to do with cost, it was always eight [episodes],” said Loeb. “It had to do with what was the best way to tell the story. Our feeling was it broke really nicely… when you have that many characters you want to be able to service them, but you also don’t want to overload the audience and you want to be able to tell a story that’s compelling and will go along. Look if you finish the eight and wish it was thirteen, good on us.”
Loeb also revealed that there’s been no plans for a second season of The Defenders as of yet, and should that move ahead, it’s unlikely that we’ll be seeing Jon Bernthal’s Punisher joining the team.
SEE ALSO: Watch the Comic-Con trailer for The Defenders here
“Marvel’s The Defenders” follows Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. A quartet of singular heroes with one common goal – to save New York City. This is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together.
The Defenders will hit Netflix on August 18th 2017, with Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Finn Jones (Iron Fist), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Simone Missick (Misty Knight), Scott Glenn (Stick), Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple), Rachael Taylor (Trish Walker), Jessica Henwick (Colleen Wing) and Elodie Yung (Elektra) appearing alongside Sigourney Weaver as the villain, Alexandra.
