Tatiana Maslany talks She-Hulk on GMA

Marvel Studios' She-Hulk: Attorney at Law debuts on Disney+ this Thursday, which would have been my mum's 81st birthday.

Growing up, I religiously watched The Incredible Hulk television series, starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno as the titular Hulk, with my mum as I recovered from a life-changing trauma. So, it's poignant.

Emmy-winning actress Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) plays the titular lawyer and recently spoke to Good Morning America (GMA) about the upcoming 9-episode Marvel Studios superhero comedy series featuring cameos from fan-favourite characters including the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Daredevil (Charlie Cox).



Maslany told Empire magazine that She-Hulk is relatable (with shades of Ally McBeal, I'd suggest).

"She really is the antithesis of most superhero narratives," Maslany explained. "There's this great element of denial in her that's relatable. For me, it was about rejecting what's happened for as long as I could, as that's what causes the fun tension between Jennifer and She-Hulk."

"She's in a career that's male-dominated and incredibly vicious and hierarchal," Maslany continued. "When she's heading this superhuman firm, that's where we get some really fun characters that she's either defending or in opposition of. It's like this really absurd take on a legal show."

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premieres exclusively on 18th August on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Daredevil leaves Netflix for Disney+

Before WandaVision, there was Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher and The Defenders exclusively on Netflix.

Personally, I really enjoyed Daredevil when it debuted back in 2015 and was quoted in publicity for a series that championed diversity. Marvel's live-action spin-off series on Netflix were all cancelled in 2018 and have now left the streaming service before moving to Disney+, beginning in Canada, later this month.

Unlike Marvel's Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. already available on Disney+ in the UK. Due to the graphic nature of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) spin-offs on Netflix, it's assumed they'll be available on Star on Disney+ outside the US.

Daredevil (Charlie Cox) most recently appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) in Marvel Studios' Hawkeye.

In related news. Marvel Studios' Moon Knight will begin streaming on 30th March on Disney+.

Should these spin-offs be revived? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

Hawkeye finale teases big boss

It's Christmas week and Marvel Studios teases the Hawkeye season finale exclusively on Disney+ this Wednesday. There are spoilers. So, look away now if you'd rather not have your presents opened for you before the big day.



As many fans (myself included) had speculated. Vincent D'Onofrio is reprising the iconic role of Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin (Daredevil) in Hawkeye on Disney+.

Fisk can be seen photographed with Kate Bishop's (Hailee Steinfeld) mother, Eleanor (Vera Farmiga). Is Eleanor the big bad? After the emotional rollercoaster ride of last week's episode, following the fallout from the battle between Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), Kate, Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), anything is possible.

New episodes of Marvel Studios' Hawkeye premiere every Wednesday exclusively on Disney+.

Are you watching Marvel Studios' Hawkeye on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop in Hawkeye

Hailee Steinfeld has been linked with the Hawkeye spin-off series for Disney+ for over a year.

Filming for the live-action spin-off series was delayed due to the pandemic but now the actress can be seen as Kate Bishop (in a comic-accurate costume) alongside Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye.

Barton is expected to pass on the baton of Hawkeye to Bishop in the limited-run series. The character of Bishop will most likely appear in further spin-offs and movies.

Hawkeye will also star Vera Farmiga as Eleanor Bishop, Fra Fee as The Clown, Tony Dalton as Swordsman, Alaqua Cox as Echo and Florence Pugh reprising the role of Yelena Belova from Black Widow.

In related news. Charlie Cox will reprise the role of Daredevil in Spider-Man 3. Cox will play Peter Parker's lawyer in the multiverse-spanning adventure.

WandaVision will be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) spin-off on Disney+ starting this January, which nicely coincides with my birthday. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will follow later in the year.

Are you excited for the Hawkeye spin-off? Let me know in the comments below.

No festive cheer for fans of Marvel's Daredevil

This news isn't a surprise; no matter how disappointing it may be for fans (myself included). Marvel's Daredevil has been cancelled by Netflix.

“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix,” Netflix said in a statement.

“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.”

The past few months have witnessed the cancellation of Iron Fist and Luke Cage, whilst the Mouse House has announced exclusive live-action MCU series for Disney+ under the auspices of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

Netflix continues to bolster its acclaimed animation and live-action series with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

How much will you miss Daredevil? Let me know in the comments below.

The Winter Soldier and Falcon to get streaming series

As Netflix cancels Marvel's Iron Fist and Luke Cage, The Winter Soldier and Falcon are set to join Loki and Scarlet Witch with their own limited-run series on Disney's upcoming streaming service.

There's no news regarding Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie reprising their respective big screen roles. But, given Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is overseeing the in-house Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) spin-offs, it would be no surprise and Disney has the financial firepower to maintain continuity.

Whilst it's tempting to suggest Disney's ultimate ambition is to have all its content on one platform. The Netflix Marvel deal is more nuanced and was inked in 2013. Therefore, Daredevil could continue on Netflix indefinitely. Of all the series, Daredevil was the first and best. The others were dour and a chore to watch. Netflix does have exclusive distribution deals with CBS All Access and DC Unlimited (outside the US) but is wisely investing in more original series including The Haunting of Hill House and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The latter is a savvy and twisted reimagining from Greg Berlanti, that owes little to the Nickelodeon sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and may become this generation's Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Variety reports the new streaming service is known internally as Disney Play. If Disney Play is used, presumably DisneyLife will be rebranded to avoid any confusion and align the brand.

DisneyLife has struggled to gain an audience in the UK & Ireland since launching in 2015. I didn't consider subscribing until last Christmas when an app for Samsung Smart TVs was released. However, the global rollout of the streaming service in 2019 will be bolstered by exclusive Marvel and Star Wars live-action spin-offs. That may be more than enough reason for fans of both franchises to sign-up.

Do you subscribe to DisneyLife? Is the streaming space becoming too fragmented and costly? Let me know in the comments below.

Netflix's Marvel superhero series to end?

Daredevil season 3 dropped yesterday and is already garnering rave reviews. The return of Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) assures this MCU spin-off remains a top-tier superhero series. However, Iron Fist and now Luke Cage will not be renewed.

In a joint statement shared by Variety, Netflix and Marvel Television say: "Unfortunately, Marvel's Luke Cage will not return for a third season.

"Everyone at Marvel Television and Netflix is grateful to the dedicated showrunner, writers, cast and crew who brought Harlem's Hero to life for the past two seasons, and to all the fans who have supported the series."

With Disney launching its own worldwide streaming service in 2019. The fate of the Marvel Netflix spin-off series seems sealed. The Mouse House has already announced live-action series for Loki and Scarlet Witch, starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen respectively, and having all exclusive content, under the roof of the Magic Kingdom, would appeal to shareholders (if not the fans). That said, due to an historical deal, Disney has to share Spider-Man with Sony. So, don't rule out further Daredevil seasons exclusively on Netflix.

Personally, I unreservedly enjoyed Daredevil. Further interconnected spin-offs left me cold compared to the fun of DC Comics' DCTV multiverse.

What are your thoughts? Would you miss Marvel Netflix superheroes or welcome exclusive multimillion-dollar series direct from Disney? Let me know in the comments below.

Is binge-watching Stranger Things a good thing?

In 2013 binge-watching was popularised by Netflix’s acclaimed House of Cards reboot. Andrew Lewin and I discussed the implications of watching a series in a matter of hours, not weeks. Rob Wainfur, the founder of The Bearded Trio, revisits the phenomenon in the wake of Stranger Things and Star Trek: Discovery.

Guest post by Rob Wainfur

‘Fake News’ has recently been named the word of the year by Collins Dictionary, but I really think the word should be ‘Binge-Watching!’ It seems to be not only the in-phrase at the moment but also the activity everyone is doing. Is that an indication that we are in the golden age of TV? Well, that may be a debate for another article, but I want to talk about the activity itself and explore why it’s become so popular.

With TV on-demand being such a popular way to watch your favourite show these days, it’s no surprise that binge-watching has become a big thing. With a whole season or, in some cases, a whole series available to watch when you like and how you like, the temptation to sit down and continuously watch Star Trek: Deep Space Nine all the way through the Dominion War story arc, or finding out if Tim and Dawn will eventually get together in The Office, well the temptation is strong and the only dilemma is whether you devote the time to such a marathon?

For me, binge-watching is a rarity. Sitting down to watch more than two episodes of a one-hour show is a commitment, for me, and any longer and I start to have a feeling of guilt. That little voice inside me, just like the opening theme to ‘Why Don’t You?’ is telling me to switch off the TV and go and do something less boring instead. The longer I leave it, the louder that voice gets…

Also, if I don’t get that feeling of guilt when I feel I should turn my attention to something else such as another form of entertainment. Video games for instance. I love losing myself in games. The weird thing is I don’t tend to get that voice telling me to leave Skyrim alone after the third hour of playing. Is this because I feel like I’m achieving something? After all, even though I’m in a virtual world, I am completing quests, honing my alchemy skills or ridding the land of vampires. It’s all virtual, but my brain is satisfied with these activities. Watch TV for hours and the old grey matter starts to get twitchy.

The problem is that a culture has developed recently that being first to see something, read something or play something makes you popular. Social media is starting to dictate how I watch TV! I am being forced to binge-watch because of that dreaded word, spoilers! Yes, I know I can leave social media alone, but I just can’t! I run a number of websites and Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms are a fundamental part of my work. Leave them alone and the sites suffer. Therefore, avoiding these platforms is near impossible for me.

At the time of writing this, I haven’t started the second season of Stranger Things (yes, I’m the one). However, already I know the pace of the season, which episodes are good and where it dips and this was just from my Facebook timeline and an accidental dive down my Twitter feed. In fact, according to Netflix, Stranger Things season two has set a new record for being the most tweeted-about streaming show with a staggering 3.7 million tweets in just three days. With those kinds of numbers, you don’t stand a chance to avoid spoilers unless you binge-watch.

Binge-watching is here to stay. On-demand television has seen to that. Yet, it seems binge-watching is not enough now thanks to the connected world we live in. ‘Binge-racing’ is now a thing. The term coined by Netflix refers to watching a new season of a show within 24-hours of its release, and the streaming service actually says more than 8.4 million members have binge-raced shows.

This new trend is definitely not for me and for a few reasons. First, I like to savour the moment. I did binge-watch Stranger Things season one. Well, it was finished within three days. For me, that’s fast. But, after the final episode, I was disappointed. Not for the quality of the show, quite the opposite. I wanted more, to continue to be back in the eighties and enjoying the horror and innocence at the same time.

I’m diabetic, so when I have a rare sugary treat such as a piece of chocolate or a biscuit I make sure I savour the moment. I’m tempted to stuff the whole lot in my mouth, but I know I will appreciate the sweet flavours and get a longer release of endorphins if I just take my time. Surely this is the same with a good TV show?

Also, recent studies have shown that ‘binge-racing’ a show hampers your memories of the show and a second showing is needed to really enjoy the experience. Three days of Stranger Things may not classify as ‘binge-racing’ per se, but the reason I haven’t watched season two yet is I’ve decided to watch the first season again and I have to say I am enjoying it, even more, the second time around with an episode a night. I’m picking up on little details I missed the first time around.

I’m not condemning binge-watching! Everyone is different and so are viewing habits. But, it’s interesting to note how these habits are changing and whether we are being forced to follow to make sure we don’t get those dreaded spoilers. I even feel a little left out when I see my geek friends on Facebook are talking about the latest Daredevil episode and I can’t contribute. A small dilemma I admit, but still, it feels important for me as that is my community I like to mix with.

I guess ‘binge-watching’ is not a new thing. I remember ‘binge-reading’ being a thing when a new Harry Potter book was released. Queues of Muggles would be lining up at midnight to get their hands on the book as soon as it was released. I remember a news report in the morning where they interviewed some fans who said they had camped outside the shop, not gone home and read the book through the night so they could be the first to have read it. Surely this has to be detrimental to the enjoyment of the story and I wonder if the same can be said when watching TV? Do you miss out on savouring each episode? Soaking in the atmosphere or the biggest one for me, the anticipation.

Star Trek: Discovery is currently streaming on Netflix outside the US and is being released the old fashioned way, one episode a week. For me, I am so happy and relieved that this is the format they decided to go with. Instead of having a timeline discussing how the whole series went, now we are getting discussions on each episode and for me, it makes the universe you intend to be part of for an hour all that much richer.

I love on-demand TV. I could never go back to the way it was. The temptation is there to binge-watch and from time to time I will. Car Share season two was on BBC iPlayer right from the start and being only six half-hour episodes, I watched the whole season in one sitting. I loved it but felt disappointed afterwards that it was over. I could have let that enjoyment last over six weeks but like the kid inside me with a big bar of chocolate, I ate the lot. I should have felt happy, but instead, I felt disappointed. I wanted more. With entertainment becoming more on-demand should we be more disciplined? Is on-demand actually reducing our enjoyment of TV? With the world connected and seemingly wanting to share their opinions with the rest of us are we being forced down a road where getting a quick bang for our buck is the new way of watching TV?

How do you feel about binge-watching? Do you think it hampers your enjoyment of a series or actually enhances it? Do you prefer Netflix releasing an episode a week or all at once? Let me know in the comments below.

Rob Wainfur
Rob is the founder of The Bearded Trio website. A site dedicated to the works of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and John Williams. He has no issues binge-listening to John Williams.

Netflix's Marvel superheroes unite in The Defenders

Today Netflix unveiled a trailer for Marvel's The Defenders. The upcoming series sees Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron First join forces to battle a big bad played by Sigourney Weaver.

Cue obligatory hallway fight scene.



The trailer has given me an incentive to catch up with a Marvel Netflix backlog.

Following the breakout first season of Daredevil. The Netflix series have stalled and stagnated for the most part. Conversely, Legion, a part of The X-Men cinematic universe at Fox, has captured my imagination with its inventiveness and is now front runner for genre series of the year.

Stream The Defenders on Netflix from 18th August. Coincedently, that would have been my late mum's 76th birthday.

Excited for Marvel's The Defenders or could care less? Let me know in the comments below.

Supergirl flies from CBS to The CW for second season

Supergirl's got a new home and it's with The CW in Canada.

The DC Comics live-action television series will join stablemates Arrow, The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow from next season. More crossovers are bound to follow under the auspices of prolific producer Greg Berlanti.

This is quite the mission statement from The CW, co-owned by CBS and Warners Bros., and bolsters the network's superhero portfolio as Netflix continues to capitalise on the success of Marvel's Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Alas, ABC's Marvel's Agent Carter didn't fare so well after relocating from New York to Los Angeles and won't be renewed.

Crisis on Infinite Earths, anyone?

Melissa Benoist, like fellow Glee alum Grant Gustin, is a charismatic lead and it'll be interesting to see her character further involved with alternate realities and timelines, which is something The Flash has become most adept at. The latter's second season has been a barnstormer and, whilst I won't post any spoilers, the Zoom/Earth-2 storyline has cemented the series' status as my favourite genre show on television.

Sky 1's scheduling of DC Comics' small screen adventures every weekday evening, from Tuesday to Friday, has been a masterstroke in the UK.

Are you glad Supergirl's saved to fly another day? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Jessica Jones renewed for second season

Netflix has confirmed Marvel's Jessica Jones will return for a second season.

Krysten Ritter and David Tennant will reprise their roles as Jessica Jones and Kilgrave respectively in 13 new episodes.

The news of the renewal is not surprising in the wake of NBC's suggestion Jessica Jones is the most-watched drama series on the streaming service.

Incidentally, Jessica Jones is the first series I've watched in 4K on a new Samsung Curved SUHD 4K 3D LED TV that included a free 6 month Ultra HD Premium subscription to Netflix. The finest television I've ever owned.

Daredevil's second season premiere is 18th March on Netflix. Upcoming Marvel Netflix series include Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Defenders. All of which are a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Excited for more Jessica Jones? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Jessica Jones is very, very dark

This is the week for tasty trailers from the Mouse House. Monday saw Kylo and the Knights of Ren triumphant in a resurgent Star Wars buoyed by nostalgia for the original trilogy in The Force Awakens. Now it's the turn of Marvel and Netflix with Jessica Jones.

Today the studios have dropped a full trailer for Marvel's Jessica Jones.



Former superhero Jessica Jones is played by actress Krysten Ritter and she'll be joined by co-star David Tennant as the villainous Zebediah Kilgrave AKA Purple Man.

If Daredevil is anything to go by, Marvel's Jessica Jones will be another binge-viewing masterpiece when all episodes arrive on Netflix on 20th November.

Star Wars live-action series coming to Netflix?

Rumours of a live-action Star Wars series have abounded since Revenge of the Sith ended its theatrical run and The Clone Wars reigned supreme on the Cartoon Network. In fact a television series was originally planned to follow the original movie until its blockbusting success nixed the idea.

In the wake of Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix, and its overwhelming success on the streaming service, rumours of a Star Wars live-action series have reignited.  Cinelinx has the exclusive on these series, yes that's series, three allegedly. All thanks to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Do you think Netflix would be the perfect home for a live-action series and should there be crossovers with the cinematic universe? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Ant-Man is James Gunn's fave since Iron Man

Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) raved about Marvel's Daredevil and now it's Ant-Man's moment of triumph in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gunn posted his review on Facebook:

"Ant-Man may just be my favorite Marvel film since Jon Favreau’s Iron Man (well, maybe excluding one film to which I’m partial). Honestly, the movie is a complete blast! I was so happy after seeing it. It’s never boring for a second and it’s hilarious and warm throughout. It doesn’t get caught up in the webbing of its own science-fiction concept like so many movies do these days, remaining simple and elegant. It’s a part of the Marvel universe without being ruled by that fact..."

Naysayers have suggested the movie would be a disaster following the departure of Edgar Wright from the project. However, Ant-Man looks like a fun heist movie in the wake of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Ant-Man will be appearing next in Captain America: Civil War.

Marvel's Ant-Man is released in theatres July 17th.

ABC renews Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter

ABC has renewed both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter after seemingly nixing plans for a rumoured S.H.I.E.L.D. spin-off series. The spin-off was thought to focus on Lance Hunter and Bobbi 'Mockingbird' Morse.

Agent Carter's first season garnered rave reviews, but has yet to be broadcast in the UK after being passed on by Channel Four. Perhaps the success of Daredevil may persuade Netflix to stream the series. I've reached out to the streaming service and will update if a response is forthcoming.

Meanwhile Marvel's arch-rival DC Comics is on spectacular form with its live-action television franchises. Arrow and The Flash continue to win deserved praise and will soon be bolstered by DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

Watch the first teaser trailer for Marvel's Daredevil

Netflix has unleashed the first teaser trailer for Marvel's Daredevil, which is the inaugural series from the company's exclusive original content deal with Disney. This includes AKA Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. Culminating in The Defenders mini-series in 2017.



“I've been preoccupied, of late, with questions of morality,” Murdock moodily intones to a priest in the 90-second trailer. “I'm not seeking forgiveness for what I've done, Father. I’m asking forgiveness for what I'm about to do.”

Daredevil follows Netflix's past successes, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, with all episodes premiering on day-one this April. A tactic that satiates my predilection for binge-viewing. For those of you with 4K UHD compatible devices, you'll be able to feast your eyes on the inky blackness in superlative detail.

Excited for Marvel's Daredevil or could care less? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who star plays Marvel villain for Netflix

Allons-y! David Tennant, best known for his role as Doctor Who, has joined the cast of Marvel's AKA Jessica Jones on Netflix.

He'll be playing Zebediah Killgrave (AKA The Purple Man) who has a history with Daredevil too. So, Tennant may be seen in more than one Marvel Netflix series.

Marvel's gone wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey.

How many more Doctor Who cast members, past and present, will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: sprawling transmedia storytelling encompassing film, television and comics? Jenna Coleman was seen in Captain America: The First Avenger and Karen Gillan played Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy!

Incidentally, Marvel's Agent Carter mini-series, despite garnering universal acclaim, has yet to be picked up by a broadcaster in the UK. There are rumours Netflix may stream the series soon. This wouldn't be a stretch in view of the streaming service's increasing commercial ties with the Disney-owned company.

Looking forward to the upcoming Marvel Netflix series? Let me know in the comments below.

True Blood's Deborah Ann Woll joins Marvel's Daredevil

True Blood's Deborah Ann Woll joins the cast of Marvel's Daredevil, which exclusively premieres on Netflix in 2015.

"Deborah Ann Woll is fiery, self-assured and inspires those around her--all words that perfectly describe Karen Page," said Jeph Loeb, Marvel's Head of Television. "It's through Deborah Ann's nuanced portrayal that we see just why Karen is not only important to Matt Murdock, but is a central figure in the war for the soul of Hell's Kitchen."

Looking forward to the Daredevil series? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Netflix series part of the Cinematic Universe

Joe Quesada (Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment) has confirmed Marvel's upcoming Netflix series is connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be available to binge-view from day-one.

Speaking on Kevin Smith's podcast, Quesada revealed:

"There will be some interconnectivity, much like the movies. They will exist within the Cinematic Universe again, so this is all the same world as S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers… Although these are superhero stories, this is different now. This is the street level… this is the street level noir side of the Marvel Universe. Something that you haven’t really, really seen in any of our Marvel movies. And probably more ground level, than I think you’ve seen. This is not like us doing Batman, Dark Knight or any of that stuff. This is very much Marvel doing street level superheroes."

"The scripts are coming in. They are pretty fantastic. They’re really emotional. They’re very, very original. But at the same time, it is Daredevil. It is Matt Murdock. We will eventually, hopefully start casting really, really soon, but I’m very, very excited about it."

When Smith asked whether Kingpin would be part of the Daredevil or Spider-Man universe, Quesada remained coy about the villain. “I’m not going to say who the villain is in our story,” answered Quesada.

This July Marvel's Netflix series begins shooting in New York for release in 2015. Presumably to tie-in with Avengers: Age of Ultron.

DC Comics please take note.

Via Live for Films.

Disney to film Marvel's Netflix series in New York

An ambitious 60 episode series based on characters from Marvel comics is to be filmed in New York as part of an exclusive content deal between Disney and Netflix.

Here's the full press release:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel and Netflix Inc. today announced that Marvel's landmark live-action television series, which will bring Marvel's "flawed heroes of Hell's Kitchen" characters to Netflix, the world's leading Internet TV network, will principally film in New York State. Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking series is Marvel's most ambitious foray yet into live-action television storytelling and represents the largest film or television production project commitment in New York State history.

Daredevil will be the first series from Marvel and Netflix to film in New York City Filming is set to begin in the Summer 2014 and will create at least three thousand jobs in New York State including up to 400 full time jobs. The project will include nearly 60 one-hour episodes focused on the 4 Defenders characters: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

"New York is where the entertainment industry started, and this unprecedented commitment from Disney and Marvel is further evidence that we're bringing it back bigger and better than ever before," said Governor Cuomo. "And when the entertainment industry thrives, it fuels dozens of other industries and businesses. The competition for these projects is fierce and Disney could have chosen to film these shows anywhere, but they knew that shooting in New York means getting to work with the best in world. These shows bring New York's super heroes home where they belong--along with hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in new business."

"Since 2008 Disney has directly contributed almost half a billion dollars to New York's economy through television and film production, along with approximately 9,000 jobs for New Yorkers," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. "The Governor's policies make this great state a more affordable and attractive location, opening the door for even greater economic investment and job creation for New Yorkers. Our Marvel series for Netflix will inject millions directly into the local economy and create hundreds of new jobs."

"We thank the Governor and the great state of New York for helping us create the ultimate backdrop to this epic series. Setting our production in New York City truly underscores the authenticity and excitement we plan to bring to The Defenders and their 'flawed heroes of Hell's Kitchen' stories," said Alan Fine, President, Marvel Entertainment. Last November, Disney and Netflix announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvel's most popular characters exclusively to the world's leading Internet TV Network beginning in 2015. This pioneering agreement calls for Marvel to develop four serialized programs totaling 52 one-hour episodes culminating in a four to eight episode mini-series programming event. Led by a series focused on "Daredevil," followed by "Jessica Jones," "Iron Fist" and "Luke Cage," the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking viewers deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell's Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a mini-series event in which the Marvel characters from the first four series team up as "The Defenders," much like "The Avengers."

This new original TV deal follows last year's landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm. "The Defenders are classic New York characters; smart, resourceful and tough enough to always stand up for what's right," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. "We're delighted they're coming to life on their home turf thanks to Governor Cuomo and his team."

When Governor Cuomo took office in 2011, he made the attraction of the film and television production and post production industries, and jobs and the economic impact they bring with them, a key part of his overall strategy to grow New York State's economy. Since that time, he has signed into law several important changes to both programs to make New York more competitive in this global marketplace, and the results have been significant. Both programs enjoyed record-breaking years in 2013, bringing billions of dollars in new spending and thousands of jobs into the Empire State. The stability provided by multiyear funding has particularly encouraged the development of television series production work, like the new Marvel series, as well as long term investments in infrastructure, all of which creates thousands of jobs directly and indirectly related to the actual productions themselves.

During calendar year 2013, applications for 183 film productions were submitted that included 124 films, 33 television programs and 26 pilots. These projects will:

-Generate a direct spend of $2.11 billion in NYS;

-Collect a projected $477 million in credits; and

-Hire an estimated 128,165 actors and crew for the 183 projects submitted.

John Ford, President, International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 52 said, "The men and women of the IATSE look forward to participating in this groundbreaking endeavor. Thanks to the vision of Governor Cuomo and the Legislature, the long term funding of the production incentives gives employers the comfort they need to invest in these new avenues of entertainment, which will provide thousands of new jobs with good wages and benefits."

Thomas J. O'Donnell, President Teamsters Local 817 said, "Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 is thrilled that Marvel's newest television series will be filmed in New York. This long-term commitment is an incredible accomplishment that will bring not just jobs, but also stability to our members work and family lives."