Daredevil: Born Again is getting closer – after releasing the first trailer behind closed doors at D23, we finally learned when the series will debut on Disney+.
The creators of Daredevil: Born Again are trying their best to recreate the vibe of the original series. The show will see the return of fan-favourite characters, and also the actors who played them back when the tale of the blind superhero was available on Netflix.
The production has seen a lot of hiccups along the way. Kevin Feige fired almost the entire team working on the project, as he found the results of their first 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 and Secret Invasion were major flops.
However, Daredevil: Born Again is gathering steam, especially since the first trailer debuted behind closed doors at D23. 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?
Daredevil: Born Again will debut on Disney+ on Wednesday, 4 March 2025. The happy news was announced by Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio at New York Comic Con 2024.
Initially, the season was set to consist of 18 episodes, a bizarre number for modern-day television standards. However, ultimately, the creators reduced the episode count to nine.
The 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 of 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 was initially some concern that the series would 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 influence Born Again’s style.
Plus, the D23 trailer revealed that the character Muse will be adapted for this series. In the comics, Muse is a serial killer who turns his victims into gruesome pieces of artwork, earning him the nickname ‘Vincent Van Gore’ – meaning it’s a promising return to the dark source material.
The trailer showed a comic-book-accurate outfit, with a white mask and bloody tear tracks streaming down the face. However, we don’t know who will be playing Muse yet.
In the trailer, Matt and Wilson meet in a diner to draw boundaries with one another as they form an uneasy partnership to team up against a new threat – presumably, Muse.
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. Wilson Bethel was also seen portraying Bullesye in the D23 trailer, sitting behind bars.
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios
Ayelet Zurer, who once played the role of Vanessa Marianna-Fisk, will also return to the series. This news is surprising, since until recently the role of the Kingpin’s wife was to be played by Sandrine Holt. However, the delay of Daredevil’s shooting caused that other projects in Zurer’s schedule no longer conflicted with work on the Marvel series.
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.
Michael Gandolfini, who you may know from The Many Saints of Newark, will also appear in the show. In the D23 trailer, Mohan Kapur briefly appeared as Yusuf Khan, Ms. Marvel/Kamala’s father.
Most excitingly, Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll are returning in the roles of Foggy and Karen Page.
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.
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