Netflix CCO Ted Sarando says that the decision to launch Daredevil, followed by Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist and eventually blend the characters into The Defenders was – as one would suspect – entirely inspired by the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“It was really based on the theatrical model of The Avengers,” Sarando said in a recent interview with Empire Magazine. “Could you take another group of characters, The Defenders, and go about it the same way? Normally they do the big movie and then eventually they get to the group origin story. Having 13 hours to tell each of these stories, you can go right to the origin story and the action at the same time.”

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