With the ability to watch entire seasons in one long binge marathon, Netflix has given people not only a chance to catch up on their favorite shows, but also get people hooked on shows they wouldn’t normally find themselves watching. From the Fourth Season of Arrested Development to new shows like the House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, Netflix is able to give these ‘different’ shows a voice they wouldn’t otherwise find on television. So what happens when you take one of the most well known Cinematic brands and team them up with Netflix? You get Marvel’s Defenders.

From left to right: Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage

Back in 2008 during the post-credits scene for Ironman, Nick Furry told Tony Stark that he had become part in a bigger universe. At first we thought this was speaking directly about Marvel’s The Avengers Phase One plan, but as time goes on we’re getting to see just how massive this ‘universe’ is. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded beyond film and moved to television with the release of the ABC program Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which despite a slow start is quickly becoming a power house in story telling – as well as tie-ins to the larger films. Now the Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding to Netflix for not one, but at least four 13-episode miniseries that will culminate in a Defenders special – basically the Avengers formula for television … on Netflix.

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 Marvel doing street level superheroes – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer for Marvel Entertainment

The Defenders – like the Avengers – are a team of superheroes whose roster has changed over the years. Originally the team was created by Doctor Strange, but since the Doctor won’t be formally introduced until his own film, this team won’t exactly have the same origin. The series will begin with Daredevil and be followed by three more mini series about Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist. Not much else is known about the series yet, but don’t expect the grandeur and majesty of the Avengers members. This will be a street level noir and will take place in New York’s Hell Kitchen – or at least Marvel’s version of it.

The Daredevil et all mini-series are due out in 2015 and will begin filming soon in New York City. As with anything Marvel, expect crossovers with their major film characters as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. After all – as their marketing plan says – it’s all connected! Will these heroes see life in Avengers 3 or future Marvel films? Let’s take this one step at a time, but as Marvel has shown us: anything is possible.