The biggest domino has now fallen, as Netflix, in a statement made to Deadline earlier this evening, has cancelled its headlining Marvel show despite rave reviews over the 3rd season, which aired only a month ago.
“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix,” the streamer said in a statement tonight to Deadline. “We 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. We’re thankful to our partners at Marvel, showrunner Erik Oleson, the show’s writers, stellar crew and incredible cast including Charlie Cox as Daredevil himself, and we’re grateful to the fans who have supported the show over the years.”
Given this fairly recent announcements of Iron Fist and Luke Cage cancellations, this hardly comes as a surprise, but does appear to officailly signal that the end of the MCU on Netflix is imminent, and likely will not last beyond Season 3 of Jessica Jones and Season 2 of Punisher. The writing has been on the wall from the noticeable lack of marketing for recent seasons of these shows to the apparent removal of the Defenders Facebook page, but the saddest sign of all being that, while it originally seemed like Netflix and Marvel were entering into a broader agreement by releasing four shows in one year, it now seems possible, if not likely, that this was only because Netflix wanted to get their commitments out of the way so that they could focus on properties produced in house.
Daredevil brought us some truly tremendous moments. From bringing characters like Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk, and Frank Castle to life to revolutionizing the one-shot fight scene, the show will have a lasting legacy moreso than the other MCU Netflix properties, and you can’t help but wonder what Marvel will do with these characters and actors in the longterm. Will they wait years before trying to reboot with a whole new cast, or will they will try to continue the story at some point on the streaming service? My guess would be the former, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
