Netflix, the online TV service that brought us Kevin Spacey drama House of Cards, has signed its biggest ever original production deal with the comic book publishers Marvel.

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Netflix Will Help Realise A New Marvel Superhero Set Of TV Series.

Marvel, which has been owned by Disney since 2009, will help Netflix bring to live four sets of 13 episode miniseries, each involving one of the Marvel heroes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage.

The four will then team up for another, joint miniseries in what is being described as "dream-team miniseries," The Defenders, and will follow a similar formula to the wildly successful Avengers movies. The series will involve live actors and will be made by the Disney-owned ABC Studios.

Daredevil, the "man without fear" who developed a sixth sense after being struck blind as a child will receive his first live action outing since 2003's Ben Affleck portrayal. It is hoped that Daredevil's Netflix series will be much more favourably received than Affleck's oft-panned movie.


"This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel's brand, content and characters across all platforms of story telling," said Alan Fine, president of Marvel Entertainment, via the LA Times.

Netflix has made its name as a monthly subscription online television streaming service that largely abandons scheduling in favour of whole series being available to watch at any time. Additionally, the site has helped launch Netflix exclusive shows, such as House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, that have received immense critical acclaim.

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said Marvel's films, including Avengers and Iron Man, were "huge favourites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels," via The Guardian.

Marvel pushed its brand into the television series format with its well-received Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D series, airing in the UK on Channel 4, and evidently wishes to invest more into the medium. The live-action series will be released in 2015.