SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Marvel's The Defenders, available now on Netflix.


After a buildup of more than two years, Marvel's The Defenders, much likes its heroes, finally came hurtling through corridors and onto the screen, kicking down doors and taking names in the process. The highly anticipated drama brought together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist in ambitious endeavor that gave most fans what they've been waiting for, and possibly a little more. But the miniseries didn't simply deliver a satisfying mix of action, humor and high stakes, it also offered hints to the future of all four Netflix shows -- and possibly laid the groundwork for a new one.

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To many, perhaps the most crucial thing The Defenders accomplished is help Finn Jones' Danny Rand to mature, placing the young hero on a path to grow into the Iron Fist that more closely resembles the character from the comics. Some fans were vocal about their disappointment with the depiction of Iron Fist in the first season of his own series, which has proved to be the weakest link in the chain of Marvel Netflix dramas. But Danny wasn't a hero yet in that first season, not in the way Matt Murdock, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage were on their own series. However, following the events of The Defenders, Iron Fist is ready to step up as the protector of New York City, all thanks to the influence of his newfound friends.

Iron Fist on The Defenders

Of his three new allies, there's one whom Danny has a lengthy comic book history: Luke Cage, alias Power Man. Together, in 1978, they formed Heroes for Hire, a partnership that combined protection and investigative services with more traditional superheroics, and paid the bills in the process. Their friendship in the comics has spanned four decades, withstanding countless villains, series cancellations and relaunches, Avengers membership, and even the marriage of Luke Cage to Jessica Jones.

Even those viewers who weren't fans of Marvel's Iron Fist will recognize Danny Rand was elevated on The Defenders whenever he interacted with Mike Colter's Luke Cage. The two characters, who come from opposite ends of the social and economic spectrums, quickly grew to respect one another after initial clashes, and formed a bond of friendship. Colter and Jones clearly enjoyed playing off each other, and, through interviews, both actors have exhibited an understanding and appreciation of the shared history of their characters, and what that means to comics fans.

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The Defenders Forged New Friendships (and Maybe Partnerships)

Although The Defenders had a lot of ground to cover in just eight episodes, the producers still took the time to plant the seeds for this relationship. Danny and Luke exchanged blows in their first meeting, but it's when they were brought together again by Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) for a sitdown that the importance of the character dynamic began to emerge. Luke gave Danny a lesson about privilege, and using his power -- not his fist, but his position as a billionaire businessman -- to make a difference. That speech, as difficult as it may have been for Danny to hear, put him on the path to the board room of Midland Circle Financial, a corporate front for the Hand. And it's there that the four would-be Defenders first united.

However, that wasn't the end of their one-on-one interactions. As Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones struggled with their own involvement in this ad hoc partnership (don't call it a team), Luke and Danny bonded over dumplings in the Chinese restaurant the foursome turned into a temporary hideout. When Alexandra, the manipulative leader of the Hand played by Sigourney Weaver, attempted to recruit the Iron Fist, a supportive nod from Luke was all it took for a momentarily uncertain Danny to rebuff her. And when the heroes decided it was best for all of New York if Danny were kept hidden, against his will, from the Hand, Luke volunteered to stay with him.

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With the roots of their friendship taking hold, and a more mature Danny ready to embrace his role as a protector of New York, it appears the stage is all but set for the Heroes for Hire to arrive on Netflix.

After all, most of the cast is already established: Simone Missick, introduced as NYPD Detective Misty Knight in the first season of Luke Cage, returned on The Defenders, which set up the addition of the character's bionic arm (the actress also has joined the second season of Iron Fist); Jessica Henwick reprised her role as Danny Rand's love interest and principal ally Colleen Wing, and began to form a friendship with an injured Misty in the final scenes of The Defenders. Longtime supporting characters in the Luke Cage and Iron Fist comics, Misty and Colleen form a fan-favorite duo that, from time to time, has been known as the Daughters of the Dragon.

Misty Knight and Colleen Wing on The Defenders

With the second seasons of Luke Cage and Iron Fist poised to continue some of the threads introduced on The Defenders, a crossover miniseries reuniting these four characters as the Heroes for Hire is not only logical, it would undoubtedly be warmly welcomed by longtime Marvel Comics fans who have been eagerly awaiting such a teamup since the Netflix agreement was announced in 2013.

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This new Heroes for Hire already has the perfect base of operations: Not the floor at Rand Enterprises left vacant by the Hand, or any of Danny's numerous other New York City properties, but rather Pop's Barber Shop, located in the heart of Harlem. Long established as neutral territory, "Switzerland," even during the most violent disputes between rival gangs, Pop's was wrecked in the first season of Luke Cage. The Defenders made a point to show the abandoned storefront in the first episode. We have a feeling that wasn't a mere callback; the shop is sitting there, calling to Luke, and perhaps his newfound allies and (dare we hope?) partners.


Available now on Netflix, The Defenders stars Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, Mike Colter as Luke Cage, Finn Jones as Danny Rand, Elodie Yung as Elektra Natchios, Sigourney Weaver as Alexandra, Eka Darville as Malcolm Ducasse, Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth, Scott Glenn as Stick, Rachael Taylor as Trish Walker, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple and Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing.