LUKE CAGE Canceled At Netflix After Two Seasons; Is HEROES FOR HIRE In The Works Or Is This The End?
In a shocking late-night development, Marvel and Netflix have announced that Luke Cage has been canceled after two seasons, joining the recently axed Iron Fist. Is this the end for the Heroes for Hire?
As fans rejoice the arrival of Daredevil season three, Deadline is reporting that Marvel's Luke Cage has been canceled after two seasons by Netflix.
In a joint statement, Marvel Television and Netflix announced the shocking news, "Unfortunately, Marvel's Luke Cage will not return for a third season. Everyone at Marvel Television and Netflix is grateful to the dedicated showrunner, writers, cast and crew who brought Harlem's Hero to life for the past two seasons, and to all the fans who have supported the series."
While details are scarce, DHD reports that the series was axed due to a combination of creative differences and an inability for the properties involved to reach a workable deal for the third season. They add that Netflix was less-than-satisfied with the recently turned in scripts for season three as well as the overall creative direction, which led to an immediate suspension of the writer's room and more behind-the-scenes drama, ultimately resulting in the streaming giant deciding to cancel the series rather than go through another round of personnel changes.
This latest cancelation comes exactly one week after the streaming giant axed fellow Marvel production, Iron Fist. With both shows now down for the count, it's hard not to wonder whether a Heroes For Hire series could be in the works, but based on these latest developments, that's probably a longshot at best. Also, considering how rare it is for Netflix to cancel a series, the ratings for both series were probably far from a satisfactory level to even reach this point.
With Luke Cage and Iron Fist gone, only Daredevil, which is widely expected to receive a fourth season; Jessica Jones, which received a third season order back in April; and The Punisher, which returns for its second season in 2019; remain on Netflix's Marvel roster. Additionally, none of these three remaining series will be affected by the impending arrival of Disney's own streaming service, which, as it turns out, may not actually be a viable option for a potential revival of either of the two canceled Marvel/Netflix series.
While Disney has already all but said that they will allow their current licensing deals to expire, meaning any Marvel or Disney movie on Netflix will eventually transfer over to Disney's streaming service, the original Marvel/Netflix deal is still in place for the original five - now six - Marvel series that Disney produced for Netflix, meaning Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher will remain on Netflix for the foreseeable future, regardless of whether or not future seasons are ordered.
Like Danny Rand (Finn Jones), it's possible that Luke Cage (Mike Colter) could resurface on one of the sister shows, presumably Jessica Jones, but it's still way too early to tell.
After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage (Mike Colter) becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.
Luke Cage features:
Mike Colter as Luke Cage
Simone Missick as Misty Knight
Theo Rossi as Shades
Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple
Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard
Mustafa Shakir as John McIver/Bushmaster
Gabrielle Dennis as Tilda Johnson
Finn Jones as Danny Rand/Iron Fist
Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing
Luke Cage Season 2 goes live on Netflix on June 22