7 Reasons Marvel's Movies And TV Shows Will NEVER Connect More

Contrary to what some will argue, not all movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have the same tone. They do, however, fall within a certain tonal range. This helps each movie land the desired PG-13 rating while appealing to potential audience members of all (or most) ages.

That's no problem for the shows on ABC, but it is for the Netflix series. There is no question that Daredevil and Jessica Jones are much darker than Marvel films. If they were released in theatres, they would probably both draw an R rating. The upcoming Punisher almost unquestionably would.

The Defenders could still show up on the big screen, but that would mean taking them out of an environment where they already work so well. That's a minor issue, though, since all of the Netflix characters are flexible enough to work in stories that are not strictly for mature audiences.

The bigger problem stems from the expectations of the broader audience that would first meet these characters in a movie. Parents would have to be aware and explain to their kids why they can't watch Daredevil's show after seeing him team up with Spider-Man. Anyone with a PG-13 impression of Jessica Jones would be in for quite a shock if they start streaming blindly on Netflix.

It's easy and true to say that it's the responsibility of the viewers to educate themselves on the content offered before watching. When running a business, however, one must accept the reality that that won't always happen and plan accordingly.