As the superhero genre feels like it’s slowly withering away, there are still a handful of upcoming projects in the MCU that have managed to hold fans' interest. AlongsideDeadpool 3, one of the most anticipated MCU projects isDaredevil: Born Again, which sees Charlie Cox’s titular hero get a new season directly on Disney+.
The series has a lot of potential and hype surrounding it, especially after recent casting announcements. However, one question is lingering over the show in the minds of long-time fans. Why doesDaredevil: Born Againfeel more and more like an unofficialSeason 4 of Netflix’s acclaimed series?
Daredevil: Born Again Feels Like a New Comic Book Run
Daredevil: Born Again
Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk try to put their rivalry and darker alter-egos aside to help the people of New York, only for their pasts to catch up to them.
The most apt metaphor is to say thatDaredevil: Born Againis the equivalent of a new comic book run, where everyone’s favorite characters return, and the narrative technically continues, but under a new creative team – with the writer and artist being swapped out for directors and DOPs. When the show was first announced after Daredevil’s surprise appearance inShe-Hulk, it was pitched to fans as a soft reboot of the character under the MCU’s continuity. However, as new details have been released, the upcoming show feels less like a reboot and more like a literal continuation.
The driving factor behindDaredevil: Born Againfeeling like a soft-continuation of Netflix’s show is the casting. Initially, only one or two original cast members were set to star in Disney’s take on the character. However, as time passed and casting rumors turned into casting announcements, the fullcast ofDaredevil: Born Againleft many fans saying, ‘Why not just leave the character with Netflix?
Daredevil: Born Again Reportedly Slashing Its Episode Count
MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again is reportedly set to run shorter than the initially promised 18 episodes.
The most significant piece of casting news is the return of Foggy Nelson and Karen Page – played by Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll, respectively. Initially, both characters were confirmed as not returning for Disney’s new show, a decision which upset almost every fan of Netflix’s hit series as, for many, the dynamic of the three friends and colleagues was one of the best parts. However, new reports and leaked set photos seem to confirm that both actors will be reprising their roles inDaredevil: Born Againand that the long-awaited legal offices of Nelson, Murdock & Page will make their debut in the new series. The new title of Murdock’s legal office is also a callback to Netflix’s show, as the third season ended with Foggy Nelson pitching the tri-named office to Karen and Matt.
The number of actors from Netflix’s series returning forDaredevil: Born Againfeels like it never ends. Alongside Foggy and Karen, Jon Bernthal is reportedly set toreprise his role as The Punisherin the upcoming series. Bernthal initially appeared as Frank Castle in Season 2 of Netflix’sDaredeviland became such a fan favorite that he received his own spin-off show, which ran for two seasons.
The Punisher isn’t the only violent sociopath from the original show returning, as Wilson Bethel may also return as Benjamin Poindexter, aka Bullseye. Bullseye was established as one of the main villains of Season 3 of Netflix’s show and stood toe to toe againstDaredevilon several occasions. How both characters will fit intoDaredevil: Born Againis currently anyone’s guess. However, the return of two iconic characters from the original series is another push into the Disney+ series feeling like an unofficial Season 4.
Like any great Daredevil story, Kingpin is set to be the lead villain inDaredevil: Born Again. Vincent D’Onofrio is returning asKingpin in the new MCUseries, and his intentions feel like they’re ripped straight from Netflix’s show. InDaredevil: Born Again, Kingpin is on a mission to rule and ‘save’ New York by running for Mayor – as hinted at inEcho’smid-credit scene. D’Onofrio has already made several re-appearances as one of the MCU’s most terrifying villains in the MCU’s back catalog of Disney+ shows. He first reprised the role inHawkeyeas a secondary villain but has gone on to play a much more significant role in the recently releasedEcho.
What Happened to Daredevil Season 4?
While the opportunity to see Charlie Cox return as Daredevil in any capacity is exciting to every fan of the character – as the British actor’s performance has been cited as perfect by many fans – there are still some who aren’t yet over Netflix’s cancelation of their version of the show.Netflix’s sub-sect of Marvel shows, which also includedJessica Jones,Luke Cage,The Punisher,The Defenders, andIron Fist(but we don’t talk about that one), was a revolutionary point for the superhero genre and, to many, is still seen as the peak Marvel television.
Daredevil: Born Again: Plot, Cast, and Everything Else We Know
Superhero-lawyer Daredevil is back in Daredevil: Born Again. Here’s all we know about the Marvel original series coming to Disney+!
Daredevil’s third season was a landmark moment in the series and is still a strong contender for the best season of Marvel television ever. However, while the third season provided some closure to the characters’ arcs, one show star believes that Netflix’s series remains unfinished. In an interview with Michael Rosenbaum on theInside of Youpodcast, Karen Page star Deborah Ann Woll said,
“…the Marvel series feel unfinished to me because we got canceled when we thought we were going to have more. There’s a part of me that was like, ‘I had more to say about Karen,’ and I felt I was in the middle of that story.”
The empty promise of a fourth season still feels like a stab in the heart to many, especially considering the drastic downturn in quality from recent MCU projects and shows. WhileDaredevil: Born Againshows a lot of potential, especially considering its incredible cast, it is because of this potential that the series will have to do something drastic to definitively separate itself from comparisons with Netflix’s acclaimed show.Daredevilis now available to stream on Disney+.Daredevil: Born Againis expected to premiere sometime in 2025.
