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Marvel's 'The Defenders': News, Rumors, Trailers & Everything You Need To Know

Marvel's hit Netflix shows are building towards a triumphant climax in 2017, with the release of The Defenders...

By Tom BaconPublished 6 years ago 6 min read
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The Defenders. [Credit: Marvel / Netflix / Entertainment Weekly]

Marvel's hit Netflix shows are building towards a triumphant climax in 2017, with the release of The Defenders — an 8-episode epic uniting Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist in an uneasy alliance against a threat to the whole of New York. #MarvelNetflix is essentially following the pattern of the #MCU movies, with The Defenders acting as the focal point of Phase 1. It looks sure to be a wild ride!

This article will be updated continually with the newest Defenders news, so make sure you return frequently to catch it all!

'The Defenders' News & Rumors

We've finally gotten the first trailer for The Defenders, and the show looks tremendous. Needless to say, fans are poring over the trailer looking for Easter Eggs galore; the most disturbing is a hint that a major character from Jessica Jones may have met an untimely demise. The trailer has come only days after Marvel teased the return of Elektra.

Meanwhile, one Redditor has revealed how Stan Lee will allegedly cameo in the series!

The Defenders' Release Date

Streaming only on Netflix, The Defenders has now been confirmed for release on August 18th, 2017.

We've finally gotten to see footage from The Defenders in this thrilling first trailer, although it doesn't offer too many surprises. That said, it seems that the show will offer not one but two Hallway Fights!

The first Defenders trailer was released at SDCC 2016, and gave us a glimpse of what to expect. It's pretty cool, even if it is sparse on details (no surprise, given that — at the time of release — neither Luke Cage nor Iron Fist had been released). Significantly, though, it features a voice-over from Scott Glenn's Stick, which many took to mean that the Hand would be the major villains.

'The Defenders' Characters

The Defenders: [Credit: Marvel Comics]

In the original comics, the Defenders were a cosmic super-team who included powerhouses such as Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer, and the Hulk. Marvel Netflix put their own spin on The Defenders characters, though, reinventing them as a street-level team based in New York City.

In the Marvel Netflix timeline, #Daredevil is a seasoned vigilante whose personal life is under very real strain. Daredevil Season 2 exacted a terrible toll on the Man Without Fear, as he went up against the Hand and the Punisher; ultimately, the love of his life, Elektra, was killed. What Daredevil doesn't know, though, is that she was resurrected as an agent of the Hand...

Don't mess with Elektra. [Credit: Marvel / Netflix]

Meanwhile, private investigator #JessicaJones has built up a degree of notoriety for herself. Jessica Jones Season 1 saw her struggling against the manipulations of Kilgrave, and she finally broke his neck. References since then have suggested that her story is an inflammatory one, with many refusing to believe that the man she killed actually posed the threat she claims. Meanwhile, set photos have suggested Jessica has a strong friendship with Matt Murdock.

#LukeCage has recently become every bit as controversial as Jessica Jones, after he became a very public superhero in Harlem. Luke Cage Season 1 ended with him arrested for his prison break from Seagate.

#IronFist has proven the most controversial Defender to date, with Finn Jones's casting a matter of real-world debate. In-universe, Danny Rand has stepped up as a major new CEO. His dynamic with Luke Cage is sure to be a highlight of The Defenders.

Heroes for Hire. [Credit: Marvel Comics]

Perhaps the most significant secondary character, though, is #ClaireTemple. She looks set to be the thread that draws the Defenders together; she knows Daredevil's secret identity, is falling for Luke Cage, and has history with Jessica Jones. What's more, Iron Fist has seen Claire up her game and learn a bit of self-defence!

'The Defenders' Cast

The core confirmed Defenders cast members are:

Charlie Cox as Daredevil

Charlie Cox as Daredevil. [Credit: Marvel / Netflix]

The flagship superhero of Marvel Netflix, Charlie Cox's Daredevil is likely to take center-stage. Some key members of his supporting cast have also been confirmed for The Defenders: namely, Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page, Elden Henson's Foggy Nelson, Scott Glenn's Stick, and Elodie Yung's Elektra.

Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones

Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones. [Credit: Marvel / Netflix]

The brilliant Krysten Ritter starred in the psychological drama Jessica Jones Season 1, and Season 2 will take place after The Defenders. She's confirmed to be bringing along key supporting cast members, including Carrie-Ann Moss as Jeri Hogarth, Eka Darville as Malcolm Ducasse, and Rachael Taylor as Trish Walker.

Mike Colter's Luke Cage

Mike Colter as Luke Cage. [Credit: Marvel / Netflix]

We were introduced to Mike Colter's Luke Cage in Jessica Jones Season 1, but his solo series turned out to be a wonderfully atmospheric show. So far, the only confirmed member of Luke Cage's supporting cast to appear in The Defenders is Simone Missick's Misty Knight, and set photos have suggested she's going to have a showdown with Jessica Jones...

Finn Jones's Iron Fist

Finn Jones as Iron Fist. [Credit: Marvel/Netflix/Entertainment Weekly]

Although Finn Jones's Iron Fist is set to play a key role as Marvel's mystical martial artist - not least because he's the resident expert on the Hand - we don't know how this is going to play out. What's more, we haven't been given much information on which members of Iron Fist's supporting cast will transition to The Defenders, although we can be pretty confident about Jessica Henwick's Colleen Wing.

In a surprising announcement at NYCC 2016, Marvel revealed that none other than sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver will be playing the lead villain in The Defenders, a mysterious character known as Alexandra.

'The Defenders' Theories

The trailer makes it pretty clear that the Hand will be playing a major role in The Defenders, so nobody was surprised when Elodie Yung was confirmed to be appearing in the series. Meanwhile, photos released to EW suggest that the team will struggle to earn New York's approval, possibly with political figures attempting to stir up anti-superhero/vigilante sentiments.

A major topic of debate is Sigourney Weaver's Alexandra, who seems likely to be a gender-swapped Alexander Bont - a minor Daredevil villain. There's also some speculation that she could be a member of the Snakeroot — the mystical group who run the Hand. Meanwhile, some fans are theorizing that there'll be a strong connection between Iron Fist and the Hand, perhaps with the Hand seeking the Eighth City.

Meanwhile, fans have been poring over Iron Fist to explore how the controversial series sets up The Defenders. In truth, the show seems to have been something of a prologue to this 8-episode event series, with Iron Fist set to play a key role, and the Hand fleshed out as villains.

Where To Watch The Defenders Online

Marvel's The Defenders will be released exclusively on Netflix in 2017, although it's possible there will be a later DVD / Blu-Ray release.

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About the Creator

Tom Bacon

A prolific writer and film fan, Tom has a deep love of the superhero genre.

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