The Marvel Bloodbath Continues As Netflix Cancels Daredevil

The Netflix Marvel bloodbath continues.  The streaming service has axed ‘Daredevil’, reportedly the most popular and successful of the Marvel series.  This follows the cancellations of ‘Iron Fist’ and ‘Luke Cage’ in October.  ‘Daredevil’ Season 3 was just released on October 19th, the same day that news emerged of ‘Luke Cage”s axing.  Just last week, showrunner Erik Oleson announced that he had pitched plans for a fourth season to Netflix.  However, at the beginning of November, analytics company Jumpshot reported that less than half the number of viewers turned in for Season 3 versus Season 2.

In a statement, Netflix delivered the news:

“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix. We are tremendously proud of the show’s last and final season and although it’s painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note. We’re thankful to our partners at Marvel, showrunner Erik Oleson, the show’s writers, stellar crew and incredible cast including Charlie Cox as Daredevil himself, and we’re grateful to the fans who have supported the show over the years. While the series on Netflix has ended, the three existing seasons will remain on the service for years to come, while the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel.”

This leaves just two remaining Marvel shows on Netflix, ‘Jessica Jones’ and ‘The Punisher’.  There are additional seasons for both arriving sometime in 2019, but at this point, the writing’s on the wall.  These will most likely be the final installments of these shows.

Netflix’s relationship with Marvel’s parent company Disney continues to sour.  Next year, Disney is both launching a new family-oriented streaming service, Disney+ and will assume a 60% controlling interest in Netflix’s rival Hulu, with aggressive plans to go global and further challenge Netflix’s power.  While Netflix will get the rights to stream ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, that will likely be the final Disney film it will offer.  As for Disney+, Disney has already announced some ambitious shows to attract subscribers, including two ‘Star Wars’ shows, ‘The Mandalorian’ and a Cassian Andor ‘Rogue One’ prequel, and original Marvel series including ‘Loki’ and possibly shows dedicated to Scarlet Witch, The Falcon and Winter Soldier, and Rocket and Groot.

As for Netflix, the streamer has recently signed deals to create original programming based on ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, Mark Millar’s Millarworld comic-based properties and Roald Dahl‘s books.

‘Daredevil’ starred Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson and Vincent D’Onofrio.

Are you sad to see this series go?  Is this really a surprise at this point?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter