Netflix’s New Original Series and Movies for 2015
Between Marvel, sitcoms, and returning favorites, Netflix is producing more and more original content, here's what we can expect in 2015...
Not happy with being the undisputable king of subscription streaming TV and films, Netflix has spent the last few years finding its footing in creating original content. It’s enjoyed some big hits with the likes of House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, but has also produced some less well-received properties such as Hemlock Grove and Arrested Development’s resurrection.Marco Polo, the service’s big budget drama following Mongolian leader Kublai Khan, was a sizeable risk for the network and one that didn’t exactly lit the critical world alight (though a second season may well help with the teething problems).Looking ahead, it seems that we’ll be seeing a new face of Netflix before the year is out. Netflix has more upcoming projects than ever before and a good slice of them are scheduled to come to our screens in 2015. Let’s take a look at the fresh original content on the service planned for this year…
Returning Series
Many of Netflix’s original series are returning for fresh new seasons this year. House Of Cards, the one that started it all, is first to return on February the 27th 2015. The Kevin Spacey-fronted political drama, now in its third season, will be available in one batch as Frank Underwood steps into the Oval office for the first time.Orange Is The New Black is also confirmed for a third season and the unique prison drama is expected to come back during June 2015. Hemlock Grove is confirmed for a third season though no arrival date has yet been confirmed, while season 9 of the revived Trailer Park Boys will land in March 2015.Both Marco Polo and Bojack Horseman will be returning for second seasons that are both expected to turn up before the end of 2015. Netflix has also begun a push into animation by creating new seasons of Disney hit Phineas And Ferb as well as DreamWorks’ Dragons series – we may have to wait until 2016 for these though.
The Adventures Of Puss In Boots
Netflix has already kicked off 2015 with an animation series spin-off from the DreamWorks Shrek franchise. The series follows its version of Puss in Boots as he fights off a legion of invaders from the hidden city of San Lorenzo.Sadly, Antonio Banderas, the voice actor who makes the character, didn’t return for the TV series as he did for the film adaptation. That film has an announced sequel as well so this may be set to fill the gap between the two movies. January the 16th saw the release of the first five episodes of the series with a new batch to come later in the year.Release date: Out now, more to follow.
Daredevil
Matt Murdock and his alter ego Daredevil have yet to make an entrance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck didn’t inspire a sequel, Marvel opted to reintroduce the character via his own TV series.A brief recap for the uninitiated: Matt Murdock has heightened senses after being blinded as a child, and uses his powers for good by fighting crime across the streets of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood. By day Murdock is a lawyer, by night a disguised crime fighter.One of the more popular TV series genres is the courtroom drama so Daredevil has the option to complete both with some kickass action in the night-time scenes. If Murdock throws a case or fails to get someone convicted he can head off at night to tackle the problem directly.Charlie Cox is on board to play Daredevil and the series has been developed by Drew Goddard. The series is expected to be the first leading up to a crossover miniseries based on The Defenders comic series as well.Release date: April 10th 2015
A.K.A. Jessica Jones
Marvel’s second Netflix-based series comes in the form of lesser-known character Jessica Jones. Jones is a failed superhero who tries to rebuild her life by opening her own private eye agency dealing with those who have super powers in her city.Jones will be played by Krysten Ritter who you’ll likely know for her roles as Jane in Breaking Bad and Chloe in Don’t Trust The B—- In Apartment 23. Luke Cage has also been confirmed to make an appearance in the series ready for his own spin-off coming up (plus, and look away now if you want to go in completely spoiler-free, in the comic series the two characters are married at one point so the two series may connect up in future).Release date: 2015
Iron Fist
Little is known about the adaptation of an Iron First series, we’ve yet to even hear who will be cast in the title role. We do know it’ll feature 13 episodes before connecting into the previously mentioned Defenders mini-series, currently slated for 2016.In the comic series the character has martial arts skills in addition to a mystical force called the Iron Fist.Disney’s CEO Bob Iger said back in November 2013 that if the characters prove popular on TV, “it’s quite possible that they could become feature films.” Could Iron Fist or one of his Defenders teammates fill a gap in The Avengers franchise maybe?So far we have no confirmed release date for the series and it may be outside of 2015 but we’ve got our fingers and toes crossed for it to be here before the end of the year.Release date: TBA
Luke Cage
After being introduced as the better half of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage will receive his own Netflix series before the Defenders crossover. Mike Colter, possibly best known as Agent Locke in the Halo: Nightfall mini-series, will take the reins as Luke Cage.A-Team-style, the character was previously imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit before gaining the powers of unbreakable skin, superhuman strength and breaking free.Since the character’s inception, he has since appeared in The Avengers line-up meaning the character may eventually make the push over to the cinematic part of the Marvel Universe. Only time will tell. We can also expect to see at least a few crossover appearances by Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones.A release date has yet to be set for the series but it is going to be the last one before The Defenders series gets rolling.
Release date: TBA
Bloodline
Believe it or not, Netflix is interested in more than just Marvel properties. On March the 20th the network will premiere thirteen episodes of its new thriller drama series Bloodline.The series has been created by executive producers of the popular drama Damages. Bloodline is a drama based on a close-knit family of four adult siblings whose secrets and scars come to the fore when another brother returns to the mix. The cast includes Friday Night Lights‘ Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Freaks And Geeks‘ Linda Cardellini and Sissy Spacek.Release date: March 20th 2015
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tina Fey’s first series since 30 Rock was set to debut on NBC in the spring this year but it has since been sold to Netflix. The series has been picked up for two seasons already and the first 13 episodes are set to debut on March the 6th this year.The series follows a woman who escapes a doomsday cult to start a new life in New York. The title role has been filled by The Office: An American Workplace‘s Ellie Kemper whilst Tituss Burgess, Sara Chase and Lauren Adams make up the supporting cast.Release date: March 6th 2015
Grace And Frankie
Grace And Frankie is a sitcom starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the title roles. The story is set to follow two long-time rivals called, you’ve got it, Grace and Frankie who become friends after both their husbands announce they’re in love and aim to get married.The first season is set to have 13 episodes that will all premiere on May the 8th this year. The rest of the cast features The West Wing‘s Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston from The Newsroom fame.
Release date: May 8 2015
And The Rest
That’s not all. Netflix has over thirty TV series currently in development ranging from the Care Bears to a King Kong spin-off series. Many of these haven’t been given release dates yet and even more are scheduled for a 2016 release but it proves Netflix is taking original content seriously.Netflix has even begun its journey into distributing movies directly as well. Although it’ll also receive a limited release in cinemas, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend will premiere on Netflix come August the 28th this year.