Marvel has been dominating on the big screen, but its small screen network fare hasn't been doing as well. Luckily, the Marvel Netflix shows have been pretty fantastic so far, and we're in for even more in the not-too-distant future. Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and even The Punisher will join Daredevil and Jessica Jones on Netflix in the next couple of years. Although the streaming service elected not to give Agent Carter a Season 3, it may be working toward more comic series. Rumor has it that Marvel has put together pilot shorts for series consideration.
Marvel reportedly wrapped production on four pilot shorts to pitch to Netflix as potential series, according to a Bleeding Cool source. Netflix has not confirmed or denied the pilot short production, but it would make a certain degree of sense if this is how the streaming service intends to vet future superhero series. Comic shows are all the rage nowadays, and Marvel has a vast gallery of comic characters who could anchor a show. Still, it takes a big leap of faith for Netflix to put in the order for a whole season. Pilot shorts could be the perfect way for execs to get a taste of a prospective series without too much commitment.
That said, we shouldn't start celebrating four new possible comic shows just yet. An early report indicated that one of the pilot shorts was called White Tiger and would follow the exploits of the heroine of the same name. Given the success of Netflix's Jessica Jones, a second Marvel series led by a woman wouldn't be a huge surprise. The White Tiger of comic lore had close connections to Daredevil, so she could make sense as a character to debut into the Netflix Marvel universe. That said, Heroic Hollywood head honcho Umberto Gonzalez has come out and disputed the White Tiger rumor:
So, there's really no saying for sure at this point if and when we'll find out about any pilot shorts produced for Netflix by Marvel. Even if Umberto Gonzalez is correct in his declaration that a White Tiger installment hasn't been produced, Netflix may still be using the pilot short process. Gonzalez technically only denied White Tiger; he didn't dispute pilot shorts altogether. If Marvel and Netflix are using this new process to vet possible additions to the Daredevil/Jessica Jones universe, we could at least expect some quality series.
The next confirmed Marvel addition to Netflix will be Luke Cage, which is set to premiere on September 30, 2016. Iron Fist and The Defenders are expected sometime in 2017. Check out our fall TV premiere schedule to see what you'll be able to watch in the near future.
