JESSICA JONES Executive Producers Open Up About 'Kilgrave', 'Luke Cage' & 'Trish Walker'
We've heard plenty of praise for Krysten Ritter's protagonist, and now the Jessica Jones producers have opened up about some of her supporting characters, including Mike Colter's 'Luke Cage' and David Tennant's villainous 'Kilgrave'. Hit the jump to check it out!
By Minty -
Aug 03, 2015 08:08 PM EST
Source: IGN
While at the TCA press tour last week, EPs Melissa Rosenberg and Jeph Loeb spoke in detail about Marvel's upcoming Jessica Jones series on Netflix. They began with Kristen Ritter's protagonist, who, like 'Matt Murdock' before her, looks set to undergo a very painful debut season. "She goes to very dark, emotional places... We beat the crap out of her," Rosenberg confessed, before adding: "You really get her strength of character, not in a noble way necessarily but she’s a tough broad."
Loeb, meanwhile, revealed that there's something very relatable about Jones' pain and struggles. "You really understand who she is and where she comes from and what each of us might have done in that similar situation," he claimed. "The viewer has a connection on a level that has nothing to do with powers, nothing to do with costumes, nothing to do with comic books. It has everything to do with being a human being and "What would I do" if that were that case?"
Next on the agenda was the series' main antagonist, the sadistic 'Kilgrave' - played by David Tennant. Full of praise for the former Doctor Who actor, Loeb likened Tennant's onscreen presence to that of Vincent D'Onofrio's from Daredevil. "In the same kind of way Vincent owned his half of Daredevil, you'll see David Tennant own his half of Jessica Jones," he promised. "You're continually finding this incredible balance."
Furthermore, despite 'The Purple Man's' more abhorrent character traits in the comics, Loeb suggested viewers may find themselves empathizing with the villain - as they did with D'Onofrio's 'Wilson Fisk'. "I think one of the things that Melissa handled so beautifully is that there are times where there are questions about what the villain is doing and you will be uncomfortably okay or not so much against what he’s doing," the Marvel executive producer warned. "Until you go, “Oh no, you’re really the villain. You really are a horrible person.”"
Talk then moved onto Mike Colter's 'Luke Cage', who will guest star on Jessica Jones before embarking on his own solo Netflix series at some point in the near future. Loeb praised Rosenberg for giving Cage "an opportunity for people to get to know him" before his own show, and insisted that Cage was integral to Jones' story. "It would not be Jessica Jones unless you at least understood how Luke affected her life and where she is."
Loeb also added that despite the fact that Cage is set to play a key role in this series, Marvel have still kept much of his backstory in the tank for his own solo show. Revealing that Jessica Jones' Cage is in the "early part of the middle" of his journey, Loeb claimed that this allows them to expand on his backstory and further adventures in Luke Cage. "Where he came from and most importantly where he’s going is what that series is about," he stated.
Loeb next went on to explain the decision to include longtime Marvel heroine 'Patsy "Trish" Walker' (a.k.a. 'Hellcat' in the comics) as a supporting character on the show. "Melissa talked about the kind of character that she wanted her to be friends with and that it was important that there was somebody in her life who made it all look easy - but not necessarily felt that way," he declared.
Walker's comic book history tracks way back to the 1950s. Loeb noted how Rosenberg and her writing team put "a unique spin" on Walker's past occupation as a model and applied it to a modern day setting. "I think that when people see it, they’ll recognize that it very much works for today’s audience," he claimed. He also praised Rosenberg for her ability to craft a realistic, sisterly bond between the show's two most prominent female characters.
All in all, that sounds pretty promising! Are you looking forward to Marvel's next collaboration with Netflix? Do you think it could even top Daredevil? Check out the producers' comments in full over on IGN if you're interested, and be sure to leave your thoughts below!
Jessica Jones will premiere on Netflix in late 2015.
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