Marvel's Netflix TV Series Casts Its Luke Cage And Jessica Jones Ahead Of 'Daredevil' Premiere

Marvel fans have a big year ahead of them, and not just because 2015 will see the release of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Ant-Man.” The Marvel Cinematic Universe will roll out four new characters by way of its five-series TV deal with Netflix. Now, three of the four heroes have been cast.

The streaming service will use some of Marvel’s clout by giving 13-episode series to the characters Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. All four heroes will converge in an Avengers-like crossover called “The Defenders.” Marvel is at work filming the first of these shows, “Daredevil,” starring Charlie Cox of “Boardwalk Empire.” It's about a blind lawyer whose other senses are heightened to superhuman levels. EW recently released photos from the show, which is described less as a high-stakes Marvel movie and more of a crime drama.

Earlier this month, Marvel announced that Krysten Ritter (“Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23”) will play Jessica Jones, a woman who, after coming in contact with experimental chemicals, gains superstrength and the ability to fly. The show will reportedly be titled “Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones.”

The Hollywood Reporter said Ritter's show will act as a back-door pilot for the recently hired Mike Colter (“The Following” and “The Good Wife”), who will play the title role in "Luke Cage." Marvel announced Colter will have a recurring role on "Jessica Jones." The character’s original comic persona is an ex-con who has gained superhuman strength and bulletproof skin after undergoing experimentation in prison. He and Jones share an on-again, off-again romance in the comic books.

Marvel has not announced casting for its "Iron Fist" series. The title character is based on the comic book hero who gains superpowers after studying martial arts. He defeats a dragon named Shou-Lao and gains the ability to focus his chi to maximize his regular human abilities, very similar to a certain red, white and blue-clad superhero in the MCU.