Marvel’s Daredevil, starring Charlie Cox, was cancelled by Netflix in November.
Griffin Sendek | Staff Writer
12/06/18
Marvel’s Netflix saga is coming to an end. With the cancellation of Daredevil, the show that started it all back in 2015, the light of Marvel’s most successful venture onto the small screen is slowly, but surely, burning out.
The announcement on Nov. 29, 2018, that Daredevil would not be returning for a fourth season came as a surprise that no one saw coming. This decision not only blindsided the fans of the show, but the actors, writers and even the Marvel executives as well.
“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix,” Netflix told Deadline in an official 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 … While the series on Netflix has ended, the three existing seasons will remain on the service for years to come, while the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel.”
That final statement about the Daredevil character living on in future projects might be a sign of hope for die-hard fans, but should be taken with a grain of salt. Netflix holds no domain over the character, and what they say should not be taken as an immediate announcement that Daredevil will return elsewhere for season four, if at all.
Marvel followed up Netflix’s statement the very next day with their own: “Marvel is extremely grateful to the huge audience that loved Marvel’s Daredevil …We look forward to more adventures with the Man without Fear in the future.”
Yet again a hopeful message, but one that gives zero concrete details of when the character of Daredevil might return, or in what capacity. No matter how much I would like to add to the rumors that the show might be making the transition over to Disney’s upcoming streaming service Disney+, all the current evidence points to that not being the case.
Disney already has announced a list of Marvel-themed plans for the streaming service, such as a Loki show, Winter Soldier and Falcon series, as well a show centered around Scarlet Witch — not included is any mention of Daredevil or other Marvel Netflix show characters. Another nail in the coffin for Daredevil making the transition is that all the planned Disney+ series are being developed by Marvel’s movie studio and not its TV division.
After Netflix axed Marvel’s Iron Fist and Luke Cage in October, the signs that Netflix was seeking to can the majority of its Marvel TV series were beginning to show. After the immense critical success of Daredevil season 3 though, it appeared that the show would be here to stay, but obviously, that was not the case.
Netflix doesn’t reveal viewership statistics for their shows and likely never will, but third-party data measurement platforms are occasionally able to extract some figures. According to Parrot analytics, Marvel’s Daredevil placed fourth in viewer demand and popularity among Netflix original content. If Parrot analytics’ data is to be believed, it seems as though Netflix saw the substantial interest in Daredevil, but turned a blind eye.
The only remaining Marvel Netflix series are Jessica Jones and The Punisher. Nothing has been confirmed as of yet but all the signs point to Jessica Jones and The Punisher soon joining the ranks of the other canceled Marvel Netflix shows, after the release of their latest seasons. The chances of Jessica Jones surviving past season 3, and The Punisher continuing past season 2, are slim to none.
It is sad to see Daredevil go, but if this truly the end for this iteration of the character, season 3 was the best goodbye anyone could have asked for.
