Summary
Marvel Studios is scrapping the new Daredevil: Born Again series and reworking it from the ground up, potentially delaying its debut.
The success of Daredevil during the Marvel-Netflix era provides compelling evidence for Born Again to extend the narrative of the Netflix series. With the progression of Daredevil season 3, showcasing Matt Murdock's growth and the addition of Bullseye, it becomes evident that there is an abundance of untold tales yet to be explored.
Daredevil: Born Again is currently undergoing extensive revisions, and the most effective solution is to transform it into a proper fourth season of Daredevil. Originally intended as a relaunch for The Man Without Fear on Disney+, production for Daredevil: Born Again was halted due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Surprisingly, Marvel Studios has now decided to essentially discard the original concept for the Marvel Cinematic Universe show and instead rebuild it from scratch, along with various other changes to their Disney+ productions.
Unquestionably, Marvel's decision, combined with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, will significantly delay the eventual release of Born Again. However, there is a noteworthy workaround for this issue. Marvel should utilize the initial plans for Daredevil's fourth season from its Netflix run as the foundation for the storyline in Daredevil: Born Again. Despite encountering certain challenges along this path, there are several factors connected to Daredevil seasons 3 and 4 that make it the most practical and potentially satisfying solution to the production challenges posed by Born Again.
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Daredevil: Born Again Should Be A Proper Daredevil Season 4
Daredevil: Born Again presents a compelling case for being a seamless continuation of Matt Murdock's Netflix series, given its immense popularity during and after the Marvel-Netflix era. One of the main factors contributing to Daredevil's widespread acclaim was its departure from the lighthearted and adventurous tone of the MCU's big-screen stories. With its darker atmosphere and Vincent D'Onofrio's captivating portrayal of Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin, Daredevil emerged as a more mature and nuanced form of superhero storytelling.
Additionally, Daredevil revolutionized fight choreography in both superhero movies and TV shows with its intense, hard-hitting martial arts scenes. The show's distinctive one-shot hallway fights, influenced by the film The Raid, became a trademark feature and set a new standard. By fearlessly delving into Matt Murdock's journey as the formidable vigilante of Hell's Kitchen, Daredevil established a unique identity within the Marvel-Netflix universe, creating a kind of "MCU Adult Swim" that has yet to be replicated in the larger franchise's theatrical releases or Disney+ shows. Daredevil: Born Again has the potential to lead the charge in this regard, delivering a direct continuation of Daredevil's storyline in its fourth season.
How Netflix's Daredevil Season 3 Set Up Season 4
Daredevil centered around the transformation of Matt Murdock as The Man Without Fear, and Daredevil season 3 established the groundwork for season 4 to progress in various ways. By defeating the Kingpin, Matt conquered the darkness and bitterness that had consumed him at the start of Daredevil season 3, and was now prepared to resume his vigilante activities as Daredevil while also resuming his legal career alongside Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). Ultimately, Matt was rediscovering his true self with his Catholic faith being reignited in Daredevil season 4, but the setup in season 3 didn't stop there.
Daredevil season 3 marked the long-awaited introduction of Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), one of Matt's formidable adversaries. During the intense three-way clash between Bullseye, Fisk, and Daredevil, Bullseye was left paralyzed. In an intriguing twist, the season finale revealed that Bullseye would undergo a surgery to repair his spine, hinting at an upcoming showdown with Matt in Daredevil season 4. Furthermore, the surgery scene tantalizingly suggested that Bullseye would don his iconic comic-accurate costume in the next season, while Matt might don his classic red Daredevil suit once again. With existing drama stemming from Kingpin's personal vendetta against Matt, it is evident that Netflix's Daredevil has plenty of captivating storylines yet to explore.
Will Disney Actually Make Daredevil Season 4?
The biggest obstacle to reworking Daredevil: Born Again into Daredevil season 4 for Disney and Marvel ironically stems from the new show's title. Daredevil season 1 showrunner Steven DeKnight explained on Twitter/X that Disney uses the titling of the new series as Daredevil: Born Again as a legal workaround, allowing them to reset contract terms to the first season. This means that, from a legal perspective, Netflix's Daredevil and Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again are considered two separate shows. As a result, realizing Daredevil season 4 becomes complicated due to existing contracts in place.
That being said, Marvel Studios and Disney may have reconsidered the level of connection between Daredevil: Born Again and its Netflix predecessor. Although the title Daredevil: Born Again will likely remain, Marvel may be making significant changes to the show to align it with the essence of Daredevil season 4, within the existing contractual framework. Ultimately, Daredevil: Born Again is expected to undergo the most extensive rewrite in MCU history, and reviving the plans for Daredevil season 4 would be the most efficient solution to that challenge.
