Hawkeye Is The Perfect Opportunity To Add Jessica Jones To The MCU

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https://screenrant.com/hawkeye-mcu-s...s-perfect-why/

The Marvel Cinematic Universe will apparently fold in elements from once separate franchises in the coming years — and Hawkeye would be the perfect opportunity to add the titular hero of Jessica Jones to the mix. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos, Jessica's journey was adapted for the screen by Melissa Rosenberg. With Krysten Ritter superbly embodying the complex role, the troubled private investigator faced down several threats across three seasons. Unfortunately, as part of the doomed Marvel/Netflix experiment, Jessica Jones was ultimately canceled.

Since then, Marvel Studios confirmed that they would conquer television as they had the big screen. Unlike such as Jessica Jones - which only tangentially referenced (and was ignored by) the main MCU - the new Disney+ series would directly feed into the movies and vice versa. All has not been without hope for fans of the Netflix shows, though. Recent reports suggested that Charlie Cox may reprise the Daredevil role in the MCU's upcoming properties. So far there's been no mention regarding other characters from the range of Defender series. However, Marvel Comics already laid the groundwork for the Hawkeye series being a great place to change that.

Created by Allen Heinberg and Jim Chueng, Kate actually debuted independently of Hawkeye (then deceased) in 2005's Young Avengers #1. Jessica Jones was actually a big part of that storyline. Initially, the titular group was shrouded in mystery. As such, Jessica was hired to track down and uncover their identities. After the fledgling team was deemed unaffiliated and reckless, Jessica worked alongside several heroes to keep the teens from getting themselves killed. Once they'd proven themselves, Jessica personally passed along Clint's weaponry and informed Kate she'd officially been designated Hawkeye. Obviously, Hawkeye will eschew this origin - building to a Young Avengers team-up rather than springboarding solo series from it. That being said, there are plenty of ways Jessica Jones could still play an integral part (or at least cameo).

During a particularly poignant conversation in the Young Avengers Special Vol. 1, Kate revealed her history to Jessica, which included a traumatic experience she'd suffered. The revelation served to bond Kate and Jessica as kindred spirits. Given her experience with Kilgrave and a rise to heroism whilst dealing with PTSD, Jessica was in a unique position to understand and offer wisdom. Jessica became only the second person Kate had told her story (the other being her therapist). As such, the moment sparked a long run of Jessica being a confidante to Kate.

This initial moment could easily still be adapted on Hawkeye — be it included in flashbacks to Kate's earlier days or otherwise. Jessica could be retrofitted into being present for the direct aftermath of her trauma. As such, she could serve for Kate a similar, inspirational function as Lieutenant Jim Gordon did for young Bruce Wayne. That established moment of trust-building could also lead to Clint and Kate relying on Jessica for a safe haven. Since Hawkeye is set to deal with more street-level threats at least partially in New York, the tone and location would already be in line with the Netflix shows.

In the comics, Jessica would also go on to become something of a mentor to Kate, teaching her about some of the more practical elements of the superhero profession. This was especially true when she operated under the banner of Hawkeye Investigations. The move saw Kate often teaming up with Jessica, as well as shadowing her to gain tips and experience. Such a dynamic would be an interesting one to at least set up, especially if Hawkeye and other such Disney+ shows potentially receive more than one season. Jessica's general inclusion could serve as a crowd-pleasing, female-empowering counterpoint to Clint's mentorship and pick up Jessica's story in a fascinating, fitting way. And since Hawkeye's story would center around the titular characters, it would also mean that Jessica could be interwoven with minimal need for exposition. Any reference to the events of Jessica Jones would merely be the icing on the cake for fans eager to merely see Ritter's character deservedly added to the MCU.