Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock Marvel Studios
Matt Murdock aka Daredevil (portrayed by Charlie Cox) is one of the first characters Marvel Television developed through Netflix. However, Netflix returned the rights of the characters to Marvel Studios in June 2020. Now that Marvel Studios has their rights, what’s next?
First, Kingpin (portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio) made a surprise appearance in the series “Hawkeye.” He was hinted to be the villain early on in the series, but it was unexpected that he would appear so soon.
At the end of the series, he appeared to die, but true fans know that the scene was ripped straight from the comics. In that case, Kingpin did not die but was left severely injured.
Only a few days after the surprise reveal of Fisk in “Hawkeye,” Daredevil made a surprise cameo in 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” As Peter Parker goes through legal troubles, it is revealed that Murdock is his lawyer.
Although he did not show up throughout the rest of the film, it was implied that Daredevil would return suited up sooner than fans anticipated. This theory became popular when he displayed his powers, catching a brick mid-air in May Parker’s apartment.
In early 2022, shortly after “Spider-Man: No Way Home” released, a rumor surfaced claiming that Cox would reprise the role yet again in “She Hulk: Attorney at Law.” This wasn’t confirmed until July of the same year, when a panel was held by Marvel Studios at San Diego Comic Con.
When Daredevil finally appeared on screen, he wore a different suit than in his own series. This sparked mass outrage amongst fans because, even though this was still a comic book accurate costume, fans were worried about the continuity of the characters.
Although Murdock and Fisk were not re-casted, this meant that there was still the possibility that they were completely different versions of the characters from the Netflix series.
The answer to if they are indeed the same characters is not clear at this time, and even the actors have addressed this. Vincent D’Onofrio said that there are some pieces of the canon that are impossible to connect, which makes it difficult to say whether the characters are the same or different.
At July 2022’s San Diego Comic Con, it was also announced that D’Onofrio would return as Kingpin, but this time for a spinoff of “Hawkeye” called “Echo.”
His role is unknown at this time, but considering where “Hawkeye” left off, there are two possible ways that things can go for the character.
First, Fisk is dead and will appear in flashbacks. Or second, Fisk is alive and recovering from recent events.
On September 21 of this year, the current release window for “Echo” was finally announced by Marvel Studios: January 2024. A plot synopsis along with a main cast list was also revealed.
The cast consisted of both D’Onofrio and Cox, which was a total surprise. This will be the first time that Daredevil and Kingpin will both appear in a series since Netflix’s “Daredevil.”
Directly after the “Echo” segment of Marvel Studios panel, it was announced both actors would reprise their roles, but this time in “Daredevil: Born Again.” Additionally, The Punisher (portrayed by Jon Bernthal) would return.
As set photos of Cox and D’Onofrio in their Daredevil and Kingpin costumes leaked online, fans became excited, but problems quickly arose.
First, there was no word on if other beloved characters would return. This includes Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Iron Fist (Finn Jones). Most of these actors claim to have never received the casting call.
Second, there was a recasting that enraged fans. The character of Vanessa Fisk (originally played by Ayelet Zurer) was now to be played by Sandrine Holt. No reason was given for the recast, and fans are worried that the Netflix series are no longer considered canon.
On top of the casting controversies, the SAG-AFTRA strike shut down production. This inevitably delayed the release date, but the end of the WGA strike caused an unexpected change.
It was reported a few weeks ago that all of the writers and directors who had been shooting the film for months prior to the strike were let go.
What does this mean? According to Marvel Studios, they wanted a creative overhaul and to start from scratch.
On October 27, it was announced that showrunners known for “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “The Punisher,” and “Loki” would be taking over.
To fans, this is a win. Maybe we will finally get the continuation of Netflix’s Daredevil.
Overall, it seems that Marvel Studios is going to be bringing back Murdock and Fisk for the foreseeable future. They will finally begin to interact with other characters, something fans have dreamed of for years.
“Daredevil: Born Again” will begin streaming on Disney+ in 2025, with no release date set due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
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