UPDATE! Marvel’s Netflix Shows Moving to Disney Plus
In what marks a surprising move, some of the earliest, most high-profile Netflix originals based on Marvel Comics characters are leaving the streaming service and heading to Disney Plus.
Weeks ago, Entertainment Weekly pointed out what many eagle-eyed Netflix watchers had already discovered: that six different shows that were made as part of a landmark deal between Marvel Entertainment and Netflix would be leaving. (Also confirmed to be leaving the streaming service, likely to join Disney’s streaming platforms, are Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with the direct-to-video movies Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight and Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell, along with certain other offerings on international iterations of Netflix.)
Despite the shows being made for the purposes of being distributed through Netflix, ABC Signature owns the shows themselves, and now Disney has made moves to put all their shows on their in-house streaming services. Earlier this week, a press release got out, confirming that the violent, more mature shows will be headed to the otherwise family-friendly Disney Plus, but there is a little more to it than meets the eye. Check it out below:
Big month for Marvel on Disney+#MoonKnight + all the Marvel Netflix shows officially being added! pic.twitter.com/rHu82nhlVb
— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) February 23, 2022
One catch: the press release shown applied to the Canadian version of Disney Plus, not the American version. In all likelihood, the shows will be available through the Disney Plus Star tier on international services, as that has been the means to allow more adult-oriented works to stream on Disney Plus. When a curious fan reached out to Hulu to ask if the shows were coming to their service instead, given their interest in having a more adult-oriented Marvel niche, their customer support service indicated that they would be appearing on the service at an unspecified point in the future:
Hulu customer support told me this about the Netflix Marvel shows. pic.twitter.com/9YKzMgmLcL
— Alex💌ᵉᶦᶜˢ(Taylor's Version) (@LetterkennyFD) February 23, 2022
The Marvel-Netflix partnership produced six shows, made up of thirteen seasons and one hundred and sixty-one episodes: three seasons of Daredevil, three seasons of Jessica Jones, two seasons of Luke Cage, two seasons of Iron Fist, the limited series The Defenders, and two seasons of The Punisher. All appear to be headed to Disney’s streaming services at the same time, although it remains to be seen if the Hulu return date will be coordinated with the international Disney Plus date.
UPDATE!
Disney Plus has confirmed they will be releasing the shows in the U.S. as well, starting March 16, instead of putting them in Hulu. The platform will retool parenting controls due to the graphic violence and dark themes explored in the shows, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The countdown is on. Marvel's Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, The Punisher, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. start streaming March 16 on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/sfoT61XilS
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) March 1, 2022
Grant Davis is a freelance writer who has covered entertainment news for more than seven years. His articles have frequently appeared in Star Wars News Net as well as as other entertainment-related websites. As someone who grew up on Star Wars and comic book movies, he’s completely thrilled with the current era of genre entertainment.
