Way back in 2013, Netflix and Marvel announced they were joining forces to create four new superhero TV shows, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, with all of these characters coming together in the miniseries The Defenders. At the time, the streaming service claimed that all four shows and the miniseries would debut in 2015, but that didn't happen, with only two of the shows, Daredevil and Jessica Jones debuting last year. Today we have new details about The Defenders, which reveal that the villain is rumored to be the Marvel comics character Mephisto.

Screen Geek's report comes from an unidentified source who claims that this villain will help set up the next phase of superhero shows, such as Blade, Ghost Rider and Moon Knight, which have all been rumored as the next Marvel/Netflix shows. The streaming service hasn't confirmed that report yet, but this source claims that Iron Fist will help introduce the "supernatural" element into the TV side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here's what the unidentified source had to say below.

"Marvel is talking about setting Mephisto as the prime antagonist for the Defenders. Some may say that this villain wouldn't fit the TV shows but that's why they're incorporating Iron Fist - to set up the supernatural element. This would also help set up the next phase of the Netflix shows, as Moon Knight, Blade, and Ghost Rider are being considered."

Daredevil star Charlie Cox revealed that The Defenders will start production at the end of this year, but Marvel and Netflix still haven't announced when the show will premiere. We do know that Luke Cage will debut on September 30, but it isn't known when Iron Fist will start shooting, or when that show will debut. It isn't known what other cast members from the Marvel/Netflix shows will be returning for The Defenders as well.

We reported a few months ago that Daredevil showrunners, Douglas Petrie and Marco Ramirez, have come aboard to serve as showrunners on The Defenders. The series will star Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, and Finn Jones, all reprising their roles as Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, respectively. Douglas Petrie, Marco Ramirez, Drew Goddard and Jeph Loeb will serve as Executive Producers on The Defenders. The series is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix. Stay tuned for more on this upcoming series.