Marvel to develop 4 original series for Netflix

Marvel will develop four original series for Netflix in a deal that gives the streaming service one of its most high-profile content partnerships.

The companies announced Thursday that the four live-action, 13-episode series will begin streaming in 2015. Marvel Entertainment President Alan Fine says the shows will be "a serialized epic" that begins with Marvel's "Daredevil" and is followed by "Jessica Jones," ''Iron Fist" and "Luke Cage." It will conclude with a miniseries of "The Defenders."

"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. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel's specialty," said Alan Fine, president of Marvel Entertainment. "This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what's sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure."

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos added, "With 'House of Cards' and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we're thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude."

Last year, Netflix acquired the paid-TV rights to Walt Disney Studios movie releases beginning in 2016. Marvel Entertainment is owned by Disney.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The development order is the most ambitious TV foray for the superhero factory Marvel. This fall it debuted "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."on Disney's ABC.