Fans were disappointed but not surprised this week when news of Jessica Jones’ Netflix cancellation broke. The series was given the chop at the streaming giant along with fellow Marvel show The Punisher. The cancellation marks the last two Marvel series to be cancelled following in the footsteps of Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daredevil.
Why was Jessica Jones cancelled?
Marvel or Netflix have not provided an official reason as to why Jessica Jones was cancelled.
However, it is widely thought to be because Disney is launching a streaming service, Disney+, later this year and Marvel is of course owned by the company.
Moreover, US streaming site Hulu – which hosts grittier series like The Handmaid’s Tale – is due to become majority-owned by Disney following a new deal.
So there could be plans to move the R-rated shows to Hulu, but no such arrangement has been confirmed by any parties as yet.
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Confirming the news to Deadline, Netflix said: “Marvel’s The Punisher will not return for a third season on Netflix.
“Showrunner Steve Lightfoot, the terrific crew, and exceptional cast including star Jon Bernthal, delivered an acclaimed and compelling series for fans, and we are proud to showcase their work on Netflix for years to come.
“In addition, in reviewing our Marvel programming, we have decided that the upcoming third season will also be the final season for Marvel’s Jessica Jones.
“We are grateful to showrunner Melissa Rosenberg, star Krysten Ritter and the entire cast and crew, for three incredible seasons of this groundbreaking series, which was recognised by the Peabody Awards among many others.
“We are grateful to Marvel for five years of our fruitful partnership and thank the passionate fans who have followed these series from the beginning.”
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Jessica Jones was renewed for a third season at Netflix back in April last year and season three will still air on the site when it comes out.
Star of the series Krysten Ritter took to Instagram to address the cancellation.
She said it was a “dream to play Jessica alongside my amazing cast and the best crew in the business for these past five years”.
The Breaking Bad actress added: “I am so grateful for every second of it. We have THE BEST fans. You guys mean the world to me and I appreciate you beyond words.
“The final season of #JessicaJones is coming later this year and I am proud of how we complete JJ’s journey. I can’t wait for you all to see it. Stay tuned and more to come.”
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Will Jessica Jones be on the new Disney streaming service?
Jeph Loeb, the head of Marvel’s TV operations said in a statement after Netflix cancelled Jessica Jones and The Punisher: “Our Network partner may have decided they no longer want to continue telling the tales of these great characters… but you know Marvel better than that.
“As Matthew Murdock’s Dad once said, ‘The measure of a man is not how he gets knocked to the mat, it’s how he gets back up.”
So this seems like Marvel has plans to resurrect the series elsewhere, whether it will be on Hulu or Disney+ remains to be seen.
At present, there is no movement to save Jessica Jones as such, despite an outpouring of disappointment from fans.
Jessica Jones seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Netflix