The Untold Secrets of MCU Revivals Unveiled in the Epic Daredevil: Born Again Drama

Summary

Former Daredevil showrunner Steven DeKnight slams Disney, accusing them of pulling an "old Disney scam" by treating Daredevil: Born Again as a completely new show to evade fulfilling contractual obligations.

DeKnight anticipates that the ongoing strikes by guilds and unions in Hollywood will address the concerns he brought up regarding Daredevil: Born Again. The use of a different show title by companies like Disney, as seen in the naming convention of Daredevil: Born Again, has sparked doubt about their intention to pay crew and creatives less, as alleged by DeKnight. Marvel Studios and Disney+ have yet to respond to DeKnight's statements.

The highly anticipated upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe show, Daredevil: Born Again, is facing challenges that highlight issues with television series revivals. After the original Daredevil series on Netflix ended, Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox, is returning to the MCU in Phase 4. Production for Daredevil: Born Again season 1 had commenced, but it is currently on hold due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA.

Daredevil: Born Again will mark the first time a character from Marvel's Netflix Defenders series takes the spotlight in the modern MCU. The original Daredevil series, now exclusively available on Disney+, was highly praised, adding to the excitement around Cox reprising his role as The Man Without Fear. However, there are concerns about how Disney is handling the revival, sparking a debate about whether Daredevil: Born Again is truly a new show or not.

Netflix's Daredevil Showrunner Calls Daredevil: Born Again A Disney Scam

Steven DeKnight, the original showrunner of Daredevil, recently took to Twitter to discuss Daredevil: Born Again. DeKnight expressed his support for the new show and its creative team but raised concerns about how it is being categorized as a brand new series rather than a delayed season 4 of Daredevil. He referred to this practice as "an old Disney scam" and called for the attention of all the guilds and unions to address this issue.

Although @My_Echo4 believed that the MCU should begin anew, DeKnight explained that his concern with Daredevil: Born Again lies elsewhere. DeKnight emphasized that his criticism is aimed at the company's attempt to "evade certain contractual payments."

In a tweet to @CDClemensen, DeKnight expressed his hope that the concerns raised regarding Daredevil: Born Again will be properly dealt with through these strikes. Ultimately, this issue extends beyond just Daredevil: Born Again, as it is a common occurrence in many "kids/young adult shows."

George Eftall asked if the creator of Daredevil felt disappointed about not being involved in Daredevil: Born Again. DeKnight emphasized his excitement to see what the new creators would do with Born Again, expressing his ongoing support for the subsequent showrunners of Daredevil after his work in the first season.

DeKnight clarified, in response to Kinolivres, that he was not criticizing Disney for rebooting the show. He did not consider Daredevil: Born Again as a fresh start for the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. DeKnight stated that if the same lead actor remains, it cannot be considered a reboot. He also mentioned Disney's tendency to slightly alter a show's title to avoid additional payment for the production crew.

DeKnight's comments are significant in light of the ongoing strikes by WGA and SAG-AFTRA, where Disney has faced criticism regarding its treatment of creatives. Essentially, DeKnight is pointing out that Disney is trying to benefit from the Daredevil property established through Netflix while finding ways to avoid paying fair compensation to the show's crew and creatives. His concern is not about the show's creative direction but rather about how loopholes can be exploited to pay them less.

This also highlights a long-standing issue in Hollywood, where companies can use slightly different show titles to evade responsibility, which DeKnight accuses Disney of doing with Daredevil: Born Again. Whether or not this is the actual reason for the naming convention is debatable. So far, Marvel Studios and Disney+ have not responded to DeKnight's remarks.

Why Daredevil: Born Again Isn't Daredevil Season 4

Disney's allegations are up for debate, but there are additional factors contributing to the perception of Daredevil: Born Again as a completely new show. By the time Daredevil: Born Again is released, it will have been almost five years since the original Netflix series concluded. Although Daredevil: Born Again will feature Cox, D'Onofrio, and Bernthal, some key characters like Foggy Nelson and Karen Page will not appear in the new show, and Vanessa Fisk has been recast.

It is currently unclear whether Daredevil: Born Again will directly address the official status of Daredevil seasons 1-3. Considering the vague canon status of the Netflix shows since their conclusion, it is more likely that Daredevil: Born Again will avoid explicitly referencing or contradicting previous events. While character relationships and characterization will likely be maintained, new storylines will undoubtedly be introduced.

Source: Steven DeKnight/Twitter