During the Marvel Netflix panel at New York Comic-Con 2016, Marvel fans were given a shock when the full cast of The Defenders miniseries event – Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) all took the stage for the very first time.
Videos by ComicBook.com
As you can now see (and hear) in the video above, seeing The Defenders onstage together made the crowd go berserk. Having been in the room, we can say it was probably the biggest reaction we’ve seen since The Avengers cast first took the stage at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2010.
From what we learned during cast interviews earlier in the day, this may be the first time the four actors have ever met one another in person. Cox, Ritter and (now) Colter have already become big breakout stars and even bigger geek icons, thanks to the success of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage – and Game of Thrones actor Finn Jones already has a fandom base established, that’s helping to give him early credit with Marvel fans who want Iron Fist to be as badass as he is in the comic books.
It’s no secret why The Defenders is such an anticipated project; even more so than Marvel Movies, the Marvel Netflix shows have done thorough work of making fans intimate with each respective character and his/her world. Combine that with some excellent creator-driven writing and direction on each project, and its little wonder that Marvel has so successfully merged is storytelling formula with genre tropes like crime drama, detective Noir and Blaxploitation.
With each of the Defenders standing on his/her own, with unique character and styles, there are truly worlds that will collide when they get together, rather than just having a novel collection of heroes standing together onscreen.
…though seeing them take on The Hand and Sigourney Weaver is only going to increase the “Wow” factor.
MORE: Iron Fist Trailer / Marvel Netflix NYCC Panel Recap / Defenders Villain Reveal / Defenders Take Stage / Iron Fist Clip / The Hand Revealed in Iron Fist
Daredevil seasons 1 and 2, Jessica Jones season 1, and Luke Cage season 1 are all available on Netflix. Iron Fist will premiere on March 17, 2017. The Defenders expected later in the year. The Punisher does not have a release date yet.
