Call it revenge of the nerds.
Comic books may have been the calling card for geeks in grade school — but the networks now can’t seem to snap the properties up fast enough to adapt into TV shows.
Netflix is the latest to join the trend, announcing Thursday a new deal for four live-action series — and a miniseries — from Marvel, featuring the characters Daredevil — played on the big screen by Ben Affleck — Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage.
The shows will premiere on the streaming service starting in 2015.
This news follows Marvel’s first foray into prime-time television, this fall’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC), DC Comics’ “Arrow” (The CW), and even “The Walking Dead” (AMC), which is based on comic books of the non-superhero variety.
And there’s more are on the way. Fox has already given a straight-to-series commitment to the Batman prequel “Gotham” about Commissioner James Gordon (played by Gary Oldman in the “Dark Knight” film trilogy), while The CW has announced plans for a potential spinoff starring The Flash that will air as a back-door pilot in this season of “Arrow” (with Grant Gustin of “Glee” cast in the title role).
The network also recently said it’s developing a drama based on the DC Comics hero Hourman, and deadline.com reported Thursday it bought another project based on “iZombie.”
“Having those franchises allows you also to incubate and get new product to come out and increases your development capability,” CW president Mark Pedowitz told reporters last summer of the network’s interest in mining the DC Comics universe.
NBC, not to be left out, is adapting “Constantine” — subject of a 2005 feature film starring Keanu Reeves — and even AMC is developing a spinoff of “Walking Dead” from the comic book author Robert Kirkman.
One look at the ratings charts helps explain why TV is suddenly in a comics craze: “The Walking Dead” is drawing monstrous ratings in its fourth season, topping 16 million viewers for its premiere and regularly beating “Sunday Night Football” in the coveted 18-49 demo.
“S.H.I.E.L.D.” is the fall’s No.2 new drama, averaging 8.8 million viewers, while “Arrow” is The CW’s most-watched series.
And in today’s fractured TV landscape, comic book franchises carry a passionate built-in fan base — just look at the 130,000 fans that flock to Comic-Con each year, or Marvel’s $2.2 billion box office haul for its films.
That popularity was a selling point Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos cited in announcing the pick up of the four 13-episode series and miniseries that will give the service close to 60 episodes of comics-based entertainment.
“Marvel’s movies, such as ‘Iron Man’ and Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’, are huge favorites on our service around the world,” Sarandos said.
“Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels.”
For Marvel, which launched a TV division in 2010, its deals with ABC and Netflix allow it to add the small screen to its universe, extending its brand to a new set of fans.
“This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling,” said Alan Fine, president of Marvel Entertainment.
“Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty.”