Netflix at TCA: Showrunners Talk Taking on JESSICA JONES, More WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, and More

Netflix brought many of its top showrunners out for an uber panel during its TCA day to promote their new shows. (And, naturally, to talk about the lack of ratings.)

Here are some of the highlights about WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, JESSICA JONES, DAREDEVIL, and GRACE AND FRANKIE…

WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER could return for more installments.

With WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER: FIRST DAY OF CAMP set to launch this Friday, showrunner Michael Showalter acknowledged it would be possible for the story to continue on.

“There’s unlimited adventures,” Showalter said. “I always thought of the characters from [the movie] like Archie and the gang. There’s no shortage of available story.”

And though in the 14 years since the movie was released, its stars have gone on to have major careers, Showalter shared that he thought they’d continue to want to be a part of the world whenever Netflix orders more.

“If you want to do something, you do it,” he said. “The longer I’ve been around, if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Which is part of how the cast came together this time around: Showalter shared he emailed the entire cast when it became probable the movie could be made into a series, to see if they would be interested in reuniting.

“We wanted to maintain the feeling of one for all and all for one,” he said. “Every single person who was in that movie, we wanted to get back.”

DAREDEVIL season 1 showrunner Steven DeKnight has truly let go of the show.

Due to a prior commitment to a film, DeKnight has completely handed off control of the Marvel series.

“I have two pom poms and I wave them frantically,”  he shared. “It’s in such great hands [with Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez].”

But he was able to give fellow Marvel showrunner, Melissa Rosenberg (who is running JESSICA JONES, and was also on the panel) some advice.

“Coffee, lots of coffee,” he shared. “It’s non-stop, as Melissa already knows. It’s challenging with locations, it’s challenging to get crews since so many things are filming, and the weather is challenging…beyond that, Melissa’s a pro.”

JESSICA JONES already has an impressive stamp of approval.

JESSICA JONES may be months from debuting on Netflix — while there is no exact date, Netflix has said the show will launch before 2015 concludes — but it already has a big fan: “Alias” graphic novel creator, Brian Michael Bendis. (“Alias” launched Jessica Jones’ story.)

“[It’s the] biggest honor I’ve ever had,” Rosenberg said of Bendis’ approval. “It all starts with Brian Michael Bendis’ graphic novel, the ‘Alias’ series…he created this incredibly, flawed, damaged, interesting character…he wasn’t afraid to go there. And we went every farther in all of our storytelling…the beauty of working with Netflix is I’m doing 13…you’re just in this bubble [while making the show]…what’s this story you want to tell? Where do you want to go with your characters? It’s freeing.”

Though this won’t be the first Marvel show on Netflix, Rosenberg shared that JESSICA JONES will not be  DAREDEVIL 2.0.

“JESSICA JONES is a very different show than Daredevil,” she said. “They look very different, tonally they’re very different.”

Not to mention Jessica Jones has a unique complication in terms of production: “My show is called Jessica Jones…there’s no mask,” she said. “Krysten Ritter (Jessica) is the hardest working woman in showbiz.”

Netflix notes altered GRACE AND FRANKIE season 2 (for the better).

Network/studio notes can be a touchy subject for writers, but GRACE AND FRANKIE showrunner Marta Kauffman praised that Neflix’s notes “force you to be true to your own vision.”

A prime example was the input Netflix had about it’s upcoming second season: “[Netflix said] between the first episode and the second episode, there was too much of a time jump — and they were right,” Kauffman allowed. It was the right note, and it helped shape the season.

No, the Netflix showrunners don’t know how many people are watching their shows.

While many people would love to know how many people are watching these Netflix shows, the showrunners  aren’t among those clamoring for data.

“There’ s so much chatter about the show, and it’s so much better than ratings,” Kauffman shared. “You get a sense of the enthusiasm. I like not knowing.”

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