Not all that long ago, if you wanted to stream a superhero television show, it was Netflix or nothing. The platform was the home of numerous original Marvel television shows and also collected the previous seasons of all The CW's Arrowverse shows.
The current landscape is on the brink of sweeping change.
Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage have all been canceled by Netflix, with Jessica Jones and Punisher sure to follow. Just days ago, WB revealed that they'll likely pull the Arrowverse shows when they launch their own streaming platform.
Without a doubt, just a year from now, the landscape of superhero film and television streaming will look vastly different as Netflix's onetime partners will be serious competitors as both Disney+ and WB Media's unnamed platform will go live. But they aren't the only players set to challenge Netflix. Disney's acquisition of Fox could totally change Hulu's approach and Apple is set to unleash a slate of star-studded projects.
Apple Streaming Service
With Apple Music a colossal hit, Apple will now turn its attention to television. There's not a lot known about Apple's mystery streaming platform, however, the tech giant is set to pull back the curtain on March 25 at a star-studded press event. Confirmed shows in development include (but not limited to):
-
a drama starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell
-
a sci-series from Simon Kinberg and David Weill
-
a new Peanuts animated series
-
a futuristic sci-fi drama titled See, that stars Jason Momoa
-
an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s produced by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman
-
an untitled M. Night Shyamalan thriller series starring Rupert Grint
-
a drama loosely based on NBA superstar Kevin Durant's life
-
an untitled sci-fi drama from Battlestar Galactica's Ronald D. Moore starring Joel Kinnaman
Hulu
When Disney's acquisition of Fox becomes official, the studio will own 60% of the streaming platform with Comcast possessing another 30% and WB owning 10%.
Hulu is already the home of The Runaways and recently announced plans for several Marvel adult animated programs (shows based on M.O.D.O.K., Hit-Monkey, Dazzler & Tygra and Howard the Duck). There's also a series based on George R.R.Martin's Wild Cards anthology books in the works.
Netflix
Combine that with the recent news of WB hinting that they'll soon pull the Arrowverse shows and you'll soon have a sizable hole in Netflix's superhero roster. Both Disney and WB will also be reserving any upcoming superhero films for their respective platforms (Disney has already confirmed that Captain Marvel will be reserved for Disney+).
To fill the void, Netflix is looking to video games, anime and comics from Mark Millar. Henry Cavill's live-action series based on The Witcher game series is currently in production and casting for the adaptation of Millar's Jupiter's Legacy is underway. Notable projects in development include live-action adaptations of Avatar: The Last Airbender (anime), Cowboy Bebop (anime), Sword Art Online (anime), Resident Evil (video games), American Jesus (comic), Empress (comic) and Huck (comic).
Amazon Prime
Amazon's streaming arm has been steadily gaining ground on Hulu and Netflix for quite some time and they're expected to make a big splash with an upcoming prequel series based on The Lord of the Rings.
Upcoming superhero projects include a live-action adaptation The Boys and an animated series based on Robert Kirkman's Invincible. A second season of The Tick was also commissioned.
Last December, Amazon Prime also ordered a live-action series based on Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy epic.
DC Universe
Launched recently, the DC Universe app contains virtually every DC comics animated or live-action project in existence and has a comic subscription to boot. However, the looming launch of a WB Media streaming platform is casting a large shadow. There are even rumors that the WB Media platform could absorb DC Universe and a number of other streaming platforms from WB affiliates.
Regardless of how things ultimately shake out with the WB Media streaming service, original series for DC Universe include Titans, an animated continuation of Young Justice and a live-action Doom Patrol series. Projects in development include live-action series based on Swamp Thing, Stargirl, Lois Lane & Lex Luthor and an animated Harley Quinn adult comedy.
Disney +
Launching late-2019, the Disney+ streaming platform will make a major splash with both Marvel (The Vision and Scarlet Witch) and Star Wars (The Mandalorian) live-action television dramas. In addition, a 12-episode, 7th season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars was also ordered, along with live-action dramas based on Marvel's Loki and a Falcon & Winter Soldier team-up series.
AT&T/WB Media Streaming
Not a lot is currently known about the streaming platform. Rumors persist that it will incorporate elements of HBO Go and DC Universe along with other WB-owned assets like The CW, TNT, TBS, Rooster Teeth and Crunchyroll. Instead of owning these services individually, paying a premium would provide access to all of these diverse platforms.