Why Disney and Marvel Needed Netflix

By Tim Beyers – Nov 10, 2013 at 6:30PM

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Marvel is betting its more down-to-earth “Defenders” will have as much global appeal as Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Here’s why the strategy can work.

Shares of Netflix (NFLX -0.51%) ended the week up more than 1.7% on news that Marvel created four new superhero shows exclusively for the online network. Yet Walt Disney (DIS -0.45%), down on weak growth in its networks business, benefits just as much and possibly more.

Fans will have to wait till 2015 for the first episodes to air. Yet the delay should be worth it: Marvel plans to end the experiment with an epic miniseries titled The Defenders in which all four characters come together in a style similar to The Avengers. The following slideshow introduces fans and investors to Marvel's newest cast of TV characters and explains why Netflix is the perfect partner to help bring them to life on screen.

4 Obscure Marvel Characters That Will Be Huge for Netflix from The Motley Fool

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Walt Disney and Netflix at the time of publication. Check out Tim's Web home and portfolio holdings, or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.

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