The Marvel shows once felt like some of the safest series on Netflix that would surely never be cancelled. After all, their connection to the MCU alone should have guaranteed them an audience. This fall, however, fans learned that no shows are ever entirely safe. First, Iron Fist and Luke Cage got the axe. Now, Daredevil has officially been cancelled.
Yes, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen has swung from his last rooftop on Netflix. The cancellation comes a little over a month after the third season of Daredevil premiered on the streaming service, and it is far more shocking than Iron Fist and Luke Cage getting the axe. In a statement (via Deadline), Netflix states that they "are tremendously proud of the show's last and final season and although it's painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note."
Netflix also expressed gratitude to the Season 4 showrunner, the writers, the crew, and Charlie Cox and the rest of the Daredevil cast. The streaming giant went on to assure that the three seasons of Daredevil "will remain on the service for years to come" while hinting that "the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel." So much for that pitch for Season 4!
The cancellation of Daredevil -- which was the first and arguably most talked-about of the Marvel series on Netflix -- leaves only two Marvel shows alive on that platform. Although The Defenders was never officially cancelled, the odds of a second season with any heroes at all feels unlikely at this point. We do now have to wonder about Jessica Jones and The Punisher.
Both Jessica Jones and The Punisher already had new seasons ordered, and Punisher at least has been in production for a while. I would put money on The Punisher Season 2 happening on Netflix, but I'm not so sure about Jessica Jones Season 3, although sources apparently indicate that Jessica Jones and The Punisher are still slated to move forward. The cancellation of Daredevil really makes it feel that nothing is too sacred to be cancelled right now.
The official end to the series comes after "strained relationships" between Marvel TV and Netflix, which reportedly began after Luke Cage got the axe. Iron Fist's cancellation may not have caused quite as much of a stir, as it was by far the least critically-acclaimed of the Netflix Marvel shows and had a fair number of vocal detractors. Luke Cage, on the other hand, was actively working on a third season that many assumed would happen.
It's also possible that Netflix and Marvel TV conflicted over the episode counts for new seasons. Almost all of the Marvel Netflix shows scored orders for 13 episodes per season, but Netflix has been moving towards 10-episode seasons, and Marvel TV reportedly did not want to make such a change. Perhaps these two giants simply couldn't work together any longer.
A big question now is what plans Marvel has for Daredevil moving forward. Netflix's comments seem to indicate that there is more for the character moving forward, but does this mean more of Charlie Cox's version, or will Daredevil be rebooted again? What does the cancellation mean for Daredevil characters who would appear on The Punisher, like Karen? What comes next?
For now, we can only wait, speculate, and rewatch the existing seasons still available streaming on Netflix. For more streaming options to debut in the not-too-distant future, swing by our 2018 Netflix premiere schedule.
