The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has a storied history going back to 2008’s Iron Man. However, while the MCU was at the tail end of its second phase, the Marvel Netflix universe was born. While the events of the Netflix shows never crossed over into the films, the opposite is not true. It was made very clear that the infamous Battle of New York from 2012’s The Avengers was a precursor to the Netflix universe. It was very obviously a place where everyone knew that gods could control lightning and armored men could shoot lasers from their palms.
All six Marvel Netflix shows took place in New York City: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher. This made for a connected, albeit concise, Marvel Netflix universe. Only Daredevil earned three seasons, making this storytelling space on Netflix a rather short-lived one, lasting from 2015 through 2019.
It can be deduced that the announcement of the streaming giant Disney+ was the causation for the cancellation of all of the Marvel Netflix shows. After all, why have a competitor host your content when it can be produced and distributed in-house? Each show was extremely well-cast and well-acted. However, there are some standout characters with standout performances who deserve to be grandfathered into the MCU, whether in films or in television shows.
Karen Page
It was recently announced that Matt Murdock (Daredevil) would enter the MCU. This news was met with much applause, as it suggested other characters from the Netflix pocket of the Marvel universe could be ushered in as well. The first supporting character from the Netflix shows that should find their way on screen in the MCU is Karen Page.
In both Marvel comics and on Netflix’s Daredevil, Karen Page is Matt Murdock’s secretary-turned-love-interest. Though she is not his only love interest in the Marvel Netflix-verse, she is the one that keeps him the most grounded.
As Daredevil is a fairly grounded superhero himself, it makes sense that he would fall in love with a regular person as opposed to a goddess or sorceress. Astute comic book readers will know that unfortunately, Karen Page is not long for this world. Aside from Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch), no prominent MCU superhero has lost a loved one on-screen. Should this happen to Karen Page and Matt Murdock, it will be a first for the MCU and a powerful storytelling development.
Foggy Nelson
If Matt Murdock is going to be lawyering in the MCU, he will need a law partner. Who better than one Foggy Nelson? In Daredevil, the camaraderie, rapport, and tension between Matt and Foggy was positively palpable.
Not only is Foggy Matt’s law partner, but he is his best friend. The two went to Columbia Law together and opened the Nelson & Murdock law office together. Foggy is also one of the very, very few people who knows that Matt is Daredevil.
The Night Nurse
Portrayed masterfully by Rosario Dawson in multiple Marvel Netflix shows, The Night Nurse is a pivotal character for street-level heroes. That is because she helps nurse them back to health, regardless of their vigilante status, financial status, or any other factor.
Audiences were introduced to the Night Nurse when Matt Murdock showed up at her door in a beat-up state of being. In Marvel comics, she treats everyone from Daredevil to S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. With three more Spider-Man movies likely on the way and Daredevil arriving in the MCU, the Night Nurse could prove to be a necessary and even pivotal character.
Elektra
The fact that Kevin Feige and company are bringing Daredevil into the MCU means there is a lot of room for other superheroes, or even anti-heroes, as well. Although Elektra never had her own show on Netflix, she made quite an impact in both Daredevil and The Defenders.
Elektra is arguably the most talented hand-to-hand combatant in Marvel’s arsenal, alongside characters like Black Widow and Shang-Chi. She can enter any room and immediately be the most prominent threat in it due to her skills, ferocious temper, and unpredictability. Elektra is another of Matt Murdock’s flames, as well. In both Marvel comics and on Netflix, the two have had a very Batman-and-Catwoman-like romance, exchanging blows one moment and embraces the next.
Misty Knight
Misty Knight played a prominent role in Luke Cage. A detective and Luke Cage’s love interest for a time, she had a great character arc during the show. Eventually, Misty Knight is seriously wounded when her right arm is severed. This is a throwback to the comics, where she eventually receives some pretty sweet Stark tech in a new bionic arm. If Marvel Studios ran with this, it would be a great way of continuing Iron Man’s legacy without having to resurrect the character.
Marvel has no short list of supporting characters they can dovetail from Netflix into the MCU. As the MCU continues to expand in the cosmos and on Earth, so too should its list of familiar and relatable characters.