These are grim times to be a fan of Marvel’s Netflix shows. Sure, ‘Iron Fist‘ had improved markedly in its sophomore year, but its cancellation was still about as surprising as death and taxes. Similarly, ‘Luke Cage‘ – critical darling though it was – never quite seemed to generate the same degree of excitement that its predecessors did. But while those cancellations might have been upsetting, it was the surprise axing of ‘Daredevil‘ that really set off alarm bells.
While Netflx is not in the habit of releasing viewing figures for its original shows, the general consensus among fans and pundits alike was that if any of the streaming monolith’s Marvel series was secure in its future, it was ‘Daredevil’. With that notion having been rather conclusively disproven and some reports attributing the cancellations (at least in part) to financial disputes between Disney and Netflix, a specter of doom now seems to hang over the remaining shows, ‘Jessica Jones’ and ‘The Punisher’.
But while it’s easy to be pessimistic, that sentiment doesn’t appear to be as pervasive as you might expect behind the scenes. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Steve Lightfoot and Marvel Television head Jeph Loeb both made clear that they not only would they be all too happy to return for a third season, they already have ideas for the series future. Loeb, however, reiterated that the decision ultimately lies not with him but with Netflix. And if the second season is the end? Lightfoot had this to say:
“I left [season two] on that final shot that was just meant to [make people go], “Wow, I can’t wait to see season three.” That was it. That was what I want them to take away, and it’s like any show – if you’ve been in this business long enough, we’ve all worked on shows that got cancelled that you wish hadn’t. I just hope we made a great show… My philosophy is always make every season like it could be your last. Don’t save anything for next season, even if that means you’ve painted yourself into a corner. But make every season the best it can be, and hopefully it speaks for itself.”
But as encouraging as this might be (if nothing else, the powers that be at Marvel Television seem hopeful about the show’s future), it may also prove cold comfort. After all, it’s hardly a secret that the writing staff of ‘Daredevil’ were in the midst of mapping out the fourth season that they (and the rest of us, for that matter) fully expected the show would get.
For more on ‘The Punisher’ and Marvel’s future with Netflix as it becomes available, be sure to check back with ScienceFiction.com!
