Is 'Jessica Jones' a big risk for Netflix?
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
We now know when Netflix viewers will see the streaming service鈥檚 newest comic book show.聽
Following the premiere of last spring鈥檚 鈥淒aredevil,鈥� which follows the Marvel superhero of the same name, the show 鈥淢arvel鈥檚 Jessica Jones鈥� debuts this November. The show stars Krysten Ritter as Jessica, who in Marvel lore has superstrength and can fly, among other abilities. In the comic books, Jessica creates a detective agency known as Alias Private Investigations.
The show co-stars 鈥淏roadchurch鈥� actor David Tennant as well as Carrie-Anne Moss and Mike Colter.
Since the show comes from Marvel comic books, Jessica lives in the same fictional universe as Iron Man, Captain America, and Daredevil, with whom she shares a streaming home.
Marvel is currently dominating the multiplex and making inroads on TV via multiple platforms. The company, which releases films as Marvel Studios, has recently released some of the highest-grossing films of the years in which they came out, including 2014鈥檚 鈥淕uardians of the Galaxy鈥� and 鈥淐aptain America: The Winter Soldier,鈥� 2013鈥檚 鈥淚ron Man 3,鈥� and 2012鈥檚 鈥淭he Avengers.鈥澛�
Prior to its Netflix deal, Marvel was already a presence on ABC, where the show 鈥淢arvel鈥檚 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.鈥� debuted in 2013. Another show set in their universe, 鈥淎gent Carter,鈥� premiered earlier this year.聽
鈥淛essica鈥� is part of a larger plan by Netflix. The streaming service debuted 鈥淒aredevil,鈥� which stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D鈥橭nofrio, this past spring and it was fairly well-received by critics. But prior to its debut, Netflix announced it was making four shows with Marvel: 鈥淒aredevil,鈥� 鈥淛essica,鈥� and the two programs 鈥淟uke Cage鈥� and 鈥淚ron Fist.鈥� After they each air, Netflix will air a miniseries titled 鈥淭he Defenders.鈥� In comic books, various superheroes have joined a group by that name, but Luke Cage, Daredevil, and Iron Fist were all members at one time.
How big a risk is Netflix taking? Planning four shows at a time is obviously a daring move 鈥� you have no idea how the first one will be received. 鈥淒aredevil鈥� was well-received by viewers, but Netflix is different than network TV in how a success or failure is perceived. Because the company doesn鈥檛 release viewership numbers, the public doesn鈥檛 know how popular 鈥淒aredevil is.鈥� We know if a show like 鈥淎gent Carter鈥� is doing well in terms of viewers (the ratings are okay); we have no official measurement from Netflix.
Netflix does run the risk that viewers will have Marvel fatigue, with so many different projects seeking viewers鈥� attention. But if future series like 鈥淛essica鈥� get good reviews like "Daredevil" and are satisfying creatively for audiences, the gamble could pay off.
