Disney is the process of removing all of its films from Netflix and rival online streaming services because the company has one of its own currently in the works. One thing we have been wondering is what that means for characters like Daredevil, The Punisher, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, with the prevailing opinion being that they'll all make the leap do Disney's unnamed streaming service instead.
Well, Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos has shared his thoughts on any potential complications in regards to the future of The Defenders, revealing to investors that the company has the rights to keep the series on the service (presumably because they invested in them) and that could mean they'll produce more shows featuring them. That, however, seems unlikely as they'd need Disney's say so.
"What Disney going direct to consumer means, I don’t really know and I’m not positive that they do either," he explained. "They’ve created some really killer brands. It’s not that exclusive… Netflix has the Defenders." If Disney does pull the plug on the future of The Defenders, that could mean characters like Daredevil and The Punisher will be brought to the big screen, possibly with new actors.
Sarandos concluded by saying that while Disney owns Marvel, they don't own all of Marvel's IPs outright and that can be read in one of two ways. Either Netflix will maintain the rights to the Marvel shows they've already produced or that they'll look to work with rival studios Fox and Sony Pictures to bring those characters to the small screen. Hopefully, more details on this will be revealed shortly.