Ever since Netflix started canceling its slew of Marvel shows – so far IRON FIST, LUKE CAGE and DAREDEVIL – the matter of "where" they would be revived has been just as prevalent as "if" they would be revived. Marvel Studios’ parent company Disney is launching their own streaming service this year, but some believe a more likely new home for the TV-MA superhero series is Hulu, and when probed about the possibility of the streaming service playing host to the Defenders one exec said they’re open to giving the shows new life.
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The Wrap caught up with senior vice president of originals at Hulu, Craig Erwich, and asked him if he and Hulu were interested in reviving the canceled shows now that Netflix has hung up their suits. Hulu has been working with Marvel for a little bit now with shows like THE RUNAWAYS, and with a new slew of animated shows in the works, and Erwich says they’re open to becoming the new home to any number of Marvel titles.
“Marvel has a ton of titles we’d be interested in. It kind of just depends on when they’re ready, [and] who, most importantly, is going to be behind these things…
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Erwich continued, saying that while business may be business it's their creative relationship with Marvel that makes them a good home for any other potential properties.
We’ve had a relationship with Marvel since Runaways, we’re getting into business on these animated shows. I’m sure it will lead to — you know, business gets you business — we have a good creative relationship with them. That’s where opportunities tend to arise.”
What makes Hulu a top contender to continue shows like DAREDEVIL isn’t just their continuing relationship with Marvel, but also the fact the service is about to be 60 percent owned by Disney itself. Once owning 30 percent of the company their share will double once their purchase of 20th Century Fox is clear, and Disney CEO Bob Iger has big plans to take the service globally and create new original content for it. While their own streaming service, Disney+, will have its own Marvel shows (reported ones are centered on characters like Loki and Scarlet Witch), Hulu is seen as the more logical possible new home for the canceled shows given their more adult content – i.e. blood, sex and the occasion potty mouthing.
All of this stuff is still in the air, of course. The deal between Disney and Fox has yet to officially close, and though the shows aren’t likely to go back to Netflix no matter what, the finalizing of that deal could be the “when they’re ready” Erwich could be referring to. Regardless of business matters, Hulu seems to be like the next best home for these canceled shows, and hopefully, everything can pick up where it left off by bringing in the same cast, crew, etc. to work on them.