In Daredevil: Born Again, we’re reuniting with Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) – but this time, the Marvel Universe’s blind lawyer with superhuman senses has ditched his vigilante persona. The streets of Hell’s Kitchen are free from his horned alter ego, as Matt chose to walk away from his crime-fighting days a year before, after a mysterious trigger pushed him to the edge. Still, the temptation to return is always simmering beneath the surface. Now, as he sips his morning coffee and reads about a mayoral race or defends a pro bono client in court, that familiar urge starts to itch. And it leads him to a tough question: who is Matt Murdock without Daredevil?
This series found itself in a similar identity crisis. Filming began in 2023 on Daredevil: Born Again with 18 episodes planned to bring the street-level hero back into the MCU fold. Fans were excited – it was Daredevil, brought back from the Netflix grave! The show’s title gave the impression that the vigilante was being born again for the MCU, even though Netflix's Daredevil (2015-2018) had been off the air for years. Joining Cox in this new saga were familiar faces like Vincent D'Onofrio as the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, and Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher. But as Marvel quickly realized, the details needed some reworking.
By June 2023, the writers’ strike halted production after about three months, and Marvel took the opportunity to reassess what they had filmed so far. "It was a little bit confusing," Cox admits, explaining that they needed to figure out whether this was a continuation of the Netflix series or a complete reboot. Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum agrees, reflecting that they had to choose how much of the old Daredevil world to carry over into the MCU, which already spans 35 films and 14 Disney+ series. After some reflection, Marvel decided it was better to play it loose and embrace a fresh, flexible approach.
To reshape the show, Marvel brought in a new showrunner, Dario Scardapane (from The Punisher), and the season was cut down to nine episodes. The remaining 9 will be spun off into a second season, with filming starting right after the first season’s debut on March 4. In a surprising move, many of the original cast members were brought back, including Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), and Wilson Bethel (Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye). Their return solidifies that the history from the original show still matters and that Matt Murdock and Fisk are the central anchors.
What fans are most eager to see is how Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio have evolved since their last on-screen confrontation. These two actors are as synonymous with their characters as Robert Downey Jr. is with Iron Man, and even Marvel knew they had to bring them back together. As Winderbaum puts it, “It was never a question in my mind that we would be bringing them back, and that it needed to be Charlie and Vincent.”
As filming resumed, the characters we left behind in the Netflix series have clearly changed. Matt Murdock’s decision to hang up the cowl and focus on law raises questions about his identity, while Wilson Fisk, now eyeing a political position as Mayor, is no longer the criminal mastermind we knew. The conflict between these two remains palpable, as their paths inevitably cross again. Scardapane highlights the psychological masks both characters wear – Matt as Murdock, Fisk as Fisk – and how their rivalry releases their darker sides.
The reunion also promises some of the most brutal action sequences Marvel has ever put to screen. Stunt coordinators made sure the action is as grounded as the original series, with no superpowers to soften the impact. Each punch, fall, and broken bone feels real, heightening the stakes for both Daredevil and his enemies. Fans can expect the intensity to keep up throughout the season, which promises to showcase a raw, visceral take on Marvel’s street-level heroes.
And the stakes aren’t just physical. Matt’s relationships with old friends like Karen and Foggy get renewed focus in the new season. Woll and Henson's return brings depth to the emotional core of the show, showing how Matt’s personal relationships clash with his darker alter ego. There’s also a promise of new villains: including Muse, a masked artist who uses human blood to create his macabre masterpieces, and of course, Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal), who will return in a storyline that promises chaos.
Even with all the action and heart-stopping moments, there’s still a sense of fun and unpredictability. The Daredevil: Born Again team has big plans for future seasons, with the potential for more crossover stories, and even whispers about a return of other Defenders like Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. It's clear that the Born Again series is just the beginning of an exciting new era for Daredevil – and Matt Murdock’s journey is far from over.
Fans of the original show can breathe a sigh of relief. With a mix of old faces, new blood, and even some blood-soaked villains, Daredevil: Born Again promises to honor the gritty, grounded roots of the character while forging a new path in the MCU.