It seemed that black clouds had gathered over the new Matt Murdock series recently. A few months ago, Kevin Feige fired almost the entire team working on the project, as he found the results of their efforts disappointing.
This news has left fans of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen worried about the series, especially since recent Marvel Studios shows such as Echo were major flops.
However, Daredevil: Born Again is gaining steam – the first photos from the set allow for some optimism. In addition to Matt Murdock, the series will see the return of fan favourite characters such as the Kingpin, Punisher, Foggy and Karen Page.
Find out what to expect from the new Daredevil series on Disney+.
When does Daredevil: Born Again release?
According to the US Copyright Office (as reported by Slash Film), Daredevil: Born Again will debut on Disney+ in early 2025. However, this is yet to be confirmed by Marvel.
This release date has jumped about quite a lot. Some time ago, it was reported that Daredevil: Born Again would debut on Disney+ in spring 2024. However, in May 2023, the Writers Guild of America went on strike, and in July, the actors’ labour union joined them. Therefore, production of the series was put on hold until the strikes concluded in the autumn of 2023.
As if that wasn’t enough, on 8 October 2023 it was confirmed that writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman had been let go, along with directors for the show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, less than half of the series had been shot when production was halted. The footage was presented to Kevin Feige, and the result was so disappointing that the CEO of Marvel Studios decided to revamp the team entirely.
The Hollywood Reporter later confirmed that Dario Scardapane (known for Jack Ryan and The Punisher) will be the new showrunner for the series, with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead directing (the pair worked on season 2 of Loki).
What’s the plot of Daredevil: Born Again?
The post-credits scene of Echo confirms that Daredevil: Born Again will be adapting one of Kingpin’s arcs from the comics.
At the end Maya Lopez’s story, we see Wilson Fisk taking an interest in televised coverage of the New York mayoral elections, particularly the fact that a suitable candidate hasn’t emerged yet – as the city wants a “bare-knuckle brawler”.
If Fisk were to enter and win, Mayor Kingpin could present a huge problem for superheroes. In the comics, he outlaws vigilantism in New York City. Matt Murdock would almost certainly be the first to feel the heat, but this could have even wider repercussions for the MCU, with heroes such as Peter Parker and Kate Bishop also affected.
When the series was first announced, it was uncertain whether the Disney project should be regarded as season 4 of the original series, or as a completely new show. MCU executive producer Brad Winderbaum told Screen Rant in January that he considers the Netflix shows as canon, stating the following:
…now that some time has passed; now that we see actually how well integrated the stories are, I think that I personally, Brad Winderbaum, would be confident in saying it is part of the Sacred Timeline
With that in mind, Daredevil: Born Again should be seen as a continuation of the story told by Netflix, and not a straight reboot.
There is still some concern that the series will have a different vibe, as Daredevil was famous for its gory, neo-noir approach to the source material. This was further fuelled by Kingpin’s portrayal in Hawkeye, which left many fans worried as a result.
That said, Echo seemed to adopt the grittier and more adult tone set by the Netflix shows, so there is still hope. Plus, Scardapane’s work on The Punisher will almost certainly have an influence on Born Again’s style.
The show’s title refers to Daredevil’s return after a long hiatus, but it also has roots in the comics. Born Again is a 1986 comic book by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, later published as an extended graphic novel. However, it’s unlikely that the Disney series will be based on this issue, as most of the events from the comic went into season 3 of Netflix’s Daredevil.
The Disney version of Matt Murdock appeared briefly in She-Hulk. However, we don’t know if Jennifer Walters will also make a cameo in Born Again.
Who’s starring in Daredevil: Born Again?
Charlie Cox will return in the role of Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil – the studio has no plans to replace the actor. It has also been confirmed that Vincent D’Onofrio will again star as Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin.
Jon Bernthal, who once played the role of the Punisher, has also joined the cast. Variety recently published photos from the set, in which the actor can be seen in costume and character as Frank Castle
The comeback of these actors is hardly surprising – their performances were well-received by fans and critics.
The cast also includes Margarita Levieva. As many suspect, Levieva may play Matt Murdock’s new girlfriend. The actor is known for productions such as The Times Square Chronicles, The Lincoln Lawyer, Invisible and From the Cold Zone. She is also set to appear in a new series from the Star Wars universe, The Acolyte.
Also joining the series is Sandrine Holt, who has appeared in MacGyver, House of Cards, Mr. Robot, Better Call Saul and American Gigolo. According to rumours, she may play a love interest for Fisk.
Michael Gandolfini, who you may know from The Many Saints of Newark, will also appear in the show.
Most excitingly, Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll are reportedly returning in the roles of Foggy and Karen Page according to Marvel tipster, The InSneider.
It’s currently unknown if we’ll see the return of Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, considering that she left Fisk for good at the end of Echo.
