Daredevil: Born Againbrings Charlie Cox back to theMarvel Cinematic Universein his first lead role as the character since 2018, although there has been some confusion about how the Disney+ series relates to the previous Netflix show.Daredevil: Born Againwas originally announced in 2022, butDaredevilreceived a creative overhaula year later, with many changes being made to the series. While it was originally envisioned as independent of the Netflix show, many of the new changes have contradicted that, creating some confusion.
Much ofMarvel’s Netflix offerings rankwell in the MCU. WhileIron Fistwas seen to be a disappointment by most, the rest of the shows, includingLuke Cage,Jessica Jones, andThe Punisher,found various levels of success. However,Daredevilhas generally been considered the crown jewel ofThe Defenderssaga.Starring Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, the series introduced a truly iconic version of the hero and his greatest villain, Kingpin, which many have wished to see more of in the larger MCU.
How Daredevil: Born Again Is A Continuation Of The Netflix Show
The New Show Follows The Events Of Daredevil Season 3
Marvel was unclear about the canon status of the Netflix series for some time, andthe earliest development ofDaredevil: Born Againwas planned to serve essentially as a reboot. During the creative overhaul, however, the studio made the bold decision tomake the NetflixDaredevilseries canon. This means that everything that occurs inDaredevil: Born Againfollows the stories that occurred in the Netflix shows - something the series leans into via decisions like having Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye make their returns.
Jon Bernthal will co-write and star in a Marvel Special Presentation about the Punisher, bringing back the format afterThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday SpecialandWerewolf by Night.
A larger cast of characters, including Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page and Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson, appear inDaredevil: Born Again,andother nods to previous events have been seen in various Marvel properties recently.While it seemed for a while like the Kingpin that appeared inEchoandHawkeyemight not be the same version, details like Echo showing Kingpin’s murder of his father in a scene that mirrors theDaredevildepictionactually affirm the show’s relation to the Netflix series by their similarity, further helping tieDaredevil’s lore into the MCU going forward.
Why Daredevil: Born Again Isn’t Called Daredevil Season 4
Numerous Behind-The-Scenes Factors Necessitated A New Show
Daredevil: Born Againessentially serves as season four of the Netflix series, but there are a number of key distinctions that must be noted. The show was originally envisioned as a reboot, which led to a different creative outlook on the series. Given the initial plans for the show were reportedly very different - with Karen and Foggy absent and the story first planned to be more of a courtroom drama - it makes sense the series wasn’t titledDaredevilseason four, and that theDaredevil: Born Againtitle remained even after changes aligned it more with the original.
Looking to still differentiate itself, the show focuses ona retired Daredevilat the beginning of its new story, making it notably different in this sense too.Disney clearly wanted a fresh product that made sense as an entry point for viewers who haven’t seen the Netflix series, and Daredevil: Born Again can be that, despite having connections to what came before.
Union restrictions may have also factored into the topic of makingDaredevilseason four outright. Guilds that include the Writers Guild of America have guidelines that dictate contract details, andwriters and many crewmembers of any show actually receive a significant pay increase if a show returns for season four.If Disney were to simply continue the previous series, many of the old contracts would potentially still stand, and the show would cost a great deal more, which may also explain this decision partially in this light as well.
Daredevil: Born Again Trailer Breakdown: 15 Biggest Reveals From The Marvel TV Show Trailer Explained
The new trailer for Daredevil: Born Again has been released, featuring some major reveals from the upcoming Marvel television series coming in March.
It has been confirmed that the Netflix shows are canon to this iteration of the character.Following Daredevil’s lighthearted appearances inShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawandSpider-Man: No Way Home, contrasted with his violent cameo inEcho,it seems that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil will be a truly dynamic version of the character moving forward in the MCU, andDaredevil: Born Againfits perfectly within the MCU, while still honoring the Netflix series that laid the groundwork for the character.
The Future Of Daredevil And The Defenders In The MCU
More Seasons Of Daredevil And Other Possible Appearances
Ever since Charlie Cox reprised his role as Matt Murdock inSpider-Man: No Way Home, there has been a lot of talk about Daredevil’s future in the MCU alongside the rest of the Defenders. With each subsequent cameo by Cox, and the MCU folding Netflix’s Defenders Saga into canon, it feels like Marvel Studios has big plans for Daredevil and the rest of the Defenders, though it remains to be seen when any of them will show up again, including Charlie Cox outside ofDaredevil: Born Again.
In a recent interview withGQ UK, Charlie Cox opened up aboutwhether his character would appear in eitherAvengers: DoomsdayorAvengers: Secret Wars, talking about how it feels more possible than ever and discussing where he would like to see the character next. His full statement reads:
“I think it’s more possible than it’s ever been, yeah. I would love to be in one of theAvengersfilms, or anotherSpider-Man, or something like that. For a couple of reasons. One, because over the years I have become a geeky fan of the character, and I weirdly, for the character’s sake, feel like it’d be really cool for him to get that kind of upgrade.
I would also just love it in terms of what it would do for my chances of getting other movie roles.”
WithDaredevil: Born Againseason two already filming, it’s obvious that Marvel Studios wants to capitalize on the popularity of the character, while also returning to a more traditional TV release schedule. As Marvel looks to continue to explore more street-level characters, which includes the Punisher having a role inDaredevil: Born Againand an upcoming Special Presentation, it’s possible other Defenders could return in future seasons of the show, officially bringing them into the MCU.
Daredevil: Born Again
Cast
Daredevil: Born Again follows blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York. As he manages a bustling law firm, former mob boss Wilson Fisk navigates political ambitions, leading both men toward a confrontation as their pasts resurface.
