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Rights For The Punisher And Jessica Jones Have Now Returned To Marvel Studios

Rights For The Punisher And Jessica Jones Have Now Returned To Marvel Studios

It's now two years since Netflix cancelled both shows and, if the reports were true, it means their two year exclusivity clause is now over.

Simon Catling

Simon Catling

Fans who feared the worst for cancelled Marvel TV series The Punisher and Jessica Jones might get to see them again after all - if previous reports that Netflix's exclusivity clause over their rights lasted just two years are correct.

That's because - if a Variety report from 2018 is true - the streaming platform's clause would've expired today, given it's two years exactly since they cancelled both shows.

That would mean the rights return to Marvel Studios and Disney, meaning there's the possibility that both shows could be revived on the company's Disney+ streaming network.

Of course, there'd be a fair bit of legwork to get to that point, but it's an enticing proposition indeed for Marvel fans who were disappointed to see the two shows axed by Netflix.

Netflix

Back in December 2018, Variety reported that the Marvel TV series cancelled by Netflix held a clause that prevented the characters from appearing in any non-Netflix series or film for at least two years after cancellation.

These shows were Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist - none of which have been seen since autumn 2018 cancellation on Netflix. As part of that deal there was also Jessica Jones, which received its own cancellation on 18 February 2019 prior to its third season.

The Punisher, meanwhile, was a Marvel-Netflix show that fell outside of this deal and starred Jon Bernthal and also received its marching orders on 18 February. IndieWire previously reported that a Disney executive had said the two-year exclusivity clause also applied to the Frank Castle character.

Bernthal had originally played the gun-toting vigilante in Daredevil's second season but was successful enough to receive his own show for the character. That show never lasted beyond season two and there was shock among Marvel fans when Netflix killed it - alongside the other four shows.

Netflix

Daredevil, for one, had received strong praise for its third season and was the first show of the deal signed back in 2013 to make its debut in 2015. It seemed like a mainstay.

The original deal was around four original live-action series, which would culminate in the miniseries event The Defenders, which of course ended up airing in 2017.

What muddied the water was Disney launching its Disney+ streaming service during the course of this deal, given it planned to bring everything under the Disney umbrella onto the platform - including Marvel Studios.

As such, when these shows were cancelled by Netflix, the expectation was that they would be able to jump right over to Disney's service.

The original Variety report seems accurate as clearly that hasn't been the case so far, but now as two years has passed since the final two Netflix-Marvel shows were cancelled, all eyes are now on the company to see what may happen next.

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: TV and Film