The Defenders

This article is about the 2017 television series. For the team, see Defenders.

The Defenders
Produced by	Marvel Television
Distributor	Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International
Formats	Blu-ray, Digital distribution
Released	August 18, 2017
Added to Museum	Not yet

The Defenders is an eight episode live-action streaming miniseries by Marvel Television that utilizes computer generated imagery. It is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is the first live-action television show in the Defenders series.

The miniseries, The Defenders, had Daredevil team up with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist to form a team named the Defenders. They fought against the people who trained Elektra to be an assassin, the group of ninjas known as the Hand.

All eight episodes aired on Netflix on August 18, 2017. The miniseries takes place between season two and season three of Daredevil.

Legacy

The actor who portrayed Daredevil and appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the same character they played in The Defenders.

Matt Murdock was Peter Parker's lawyer in the film, Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. He later appeared as both a romantic partner to She-Hulk and as the superhero Daredevil in the streaming series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, in 2022.

Daredevil: Born Again, a continuation of the Daredevil television series, premiered on Disney+ in 2025. The second season, aired in 2026, reunited Daredevil with his fellow Defender Jessica Jones.

The Hand returned in Spider-Man: Brand New Day in 2026.