How Will Elektra Factor Into The Defenders?

With the recent release of Wonder Woman, and the success it’s having with critics and audiences, it looks like it’s a good time to be a girl in the world of superhero movies. There was a lot riding on the first female-fronted superhero picture of the modern era, and it’s refreshing to see the film rising to the challenge.

In fact, Wonder Woman had the highest opening weekend for a movie directed by a woman of all time. This is good news for the future of other female superheroes because if one thing talks to the Hollywood big shots, it’s money. And it isn’t just the silver screen where this could have an impact. We’re also seeing a resurgence of women when it comes to the state of superheroes on the small screen.

Netflix in particular has seen a slew of strong female protagonists through Marvel’s string of original series. After Daredevil kicked off the streaming universe, the second series was focused on Jessica Jones, a super-powered private eye with an attitude to match her super strength. Jones will be part of the upcoming superteam in Marvel’s The Defenders, but she isn’t the only notable butt-kicking lady joining the party. Early trailers make it look like the unstoppable assassin, Elektra, will be making a comeback in the upcoming show.

The Defenders could provide an opportunity to be another win for women in the often male-dominated superhero world. After spending much of season 2 of Daredevil straddling the line between hero and villain, Elektra firmly planted herself on the side of good when she sacrificed herself to save the Man Without Fear. Her body was taken by the evil organization known as “The Hand,” and her fate beyond that was left up in the air. We know for sure that she’s going to make a comeback in the new series thanks to an eerie trailer hinting at her return, but we don’t know which side she’ll ultimately be on. We’ve heard that the main villain of The Defenders will be played by Sigourney Weaver, but we’re not sure how she’ll tie into The Hand and, subsequently, Elektra. Will she return once again on the wrong side of justice, or will she swing into action to save our heroes at the final hour? All we know is that women will play a large role in the upcoming series, and Elektra will definitely be a big part of it.

Elektra has long been one of the most underrated characters in the Marvel universe, and it’s been great to see her be treated properly in the Netflix incarnation. What we’d really like to see is for her to continue to get a bigger role in the Netflix shows, if not eventually get her own series. Marvel clearly knows the value of the character and continues to push her in other formats besides just streaming content. Elektra is one of many Marvel characters that make up some of the best online slot games available, and she sits alongside other popular heroes like Daredevil, Iron Man, and the Hulk. These comic book makeovers of classic casino games add some much needed flair to the otherwise straightforward slot reels, and like the streaming series, they help to further expand the reach of the Marvel universe.

It’s clear that women are going to be a big part of the superhero game as we move into the future of comic book cinema. Wonder Woman has set an important precedent, and this is one that will be followed by Marvel when Jessica Jones and Elektra meet this summer. Marvel’s The Defenders is set to be released to Netflix on August 18, 2017.