‘They Were Thrifty’: Netflix’s Head Honcho Doesn’t Mince Words While Recalling Partnership With Marvel TV And What He Learned From It

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Initially, when it became known that Marvel and Netflix were collaborating to produce several streaming series, aiming to assemble a new superhero team much like the Avengers, fans showed great enthusiasm. However, the ultimate response to these productions was at best indifferent. It appears that if Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos were to speak of this collaboration with Marvel, he might express similar sentiments.

Presently, the Marvel series airing on Disney+, such as “Daredevil: Born Again,” featuring actors from the initial Netflix series, are all crafted by the same Marvel Studios production crew responsible for the MCU films. Contrastingly, this wasn’t the case in the past. Ted Sarandos, in an interview with Variety, stated that Marvel Television prioritized financial gains over quality, which often resulted in disagreements between the two parties. He elaborated on…

In our programming, we encountered a traditional Marvel TV structure at Disney that functioned autonomously. They were known for being frugal, and whenever we sought to elevate or enhance our shows, it required persistent persuasion. Our objectives weren’t always in sync – we aimed for quality television, while they focused on financial gain. I believed that high-quality television could generate income as well.

Ted Sarandos referred to the Netflix/Marvel agreement as “the largest television deal ever,” and considering its scale, it’s challenging to argue otherwise. In this arrangement, Netflix committed to producing five seasons of TV series. These included four individual seasons centered around Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, followed by a joint season featuring the Defenders team. This was all agreed upon without any prior previews or pilots, essentially jumping into the project blindly.

Netflix and Marvel jointly produced a total of 13 television series, with The Punisher added as an extra. Initially, the early seasons received positive reviews, but many critics found The Defenders less satisfying, and the subsequent seasons seemed weaker compared to the earlier ones. Ted Sarantos, who was involved in the production, openly admitted that the shows’ lack of greatness could be attributed to Marvel’s reluctance to invest more money to improve them. He stated…

You prefer collaborating with individuals whose goals align with yours. When someone is creating for you, their objective is usually to do so at the lowest cost. However, my goal is to make it exceptional in every way possible. This is a lesson that I have carried with me throughout my career. For instance, when working with Marvel, any money they didn’t spend, they saved. Therefore, whenever we aimed to enhance the show, it often led to disagreements or disputes.

Starting today, you’ll require a Disney+ membership to catch these series. Since last year, in 2022, Marvel regained all rights and consequently removed everything from the streaming service. It remains uncertain whether Netflix believes they received fair value for their investment.

It appears that the opposite side of Marvel Studios may be prepared to invest funds, given they greenlit two seasons from the start for Daredevil: Born Again. However, it could also be something else. So far, Born Again seems to match up with the top-tier Netflix/Marvel productions. With its success, there’s a possibility that we might see more of the Defenders team reunite, assuming Marvel is willing to invest the necessary funds.

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2025-03-20 12:37