Netflix has cancelled its remaining Marvel shows The Punisher and Jessica Jones as rival Disney prepares to launch its own streaming service.
In a letter to fans announcing the news, Head of Marvel TV Jeph Loeb hinted that the company was not finished with the characters.
A Letter to Marvel Television Fans from Jeph Loeb: https://t.co/ph2jJey2Ah
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 18, 2019
He said: “Our Network partner may have decided they no longer want to continue telling the tales of these great characters… but you know Marvel better than that.”
Marvel’s parent company, Disney, is preparing to launch a streaming service to rival Netflix, with Disney+ set to arrive later this year.
Netflix has already cancelled Marvel shows Daredevil, Iron Fist and Luke Cage in the last few months.
The third and final season of Jessica Jones, which stars Krysten Ritter in the title role, will arrive on Netflix later this year.
US actress Ritter said the role had been “a dream”.
The Punisher’s second season debuted in January. Jon Benthal, who plays vigilante Frank Castle, said on Instagram it had been “an honour to walk in his boots”.
Netflix told Deadline: “We are grateful to Marvel for five years of our fruitful partnership and thank the passionate fans who have followed these series from the beginning.”
Media giant Disney, which as well as Marvel also owns Pixar and 21st Century Fox, boasts a fearsome stable of entertainment franchises, including Star Wars.
It announced it was pulling all of its films from Netflix in August 2017 and Disney+ is expected to arrive later this year.