Daredevil Showrunner Clarifies Seemingly Negative Comments About Netflix Series As Born Again Earns Rave First Reactions: "Taken Way Out Of Context"
Matt Murdock's will finally continue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the new Daredevil: Born Again series, which is bringing the Marvel icon played by Charlie Cox back to the big screen after his Netflix series ended in October 2018 back to the small-screen. The Marvel-Netflix properties officially became canon to the MCU timeline, allowing Marvel Studios to bring back one of the most popular superhero eras of the 2010s.
The new Daredevil series is not an official revival of Netflix's Daredevil TV show. Rather, Daredevil: Born Again will honor the legacy of the original series while launching a new beginning for the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, picking up with many characters where the original series left off while introducing even more.
As Daredevil: Born Again is preparing to premiere, ScreenRant's Liam Crowley sat down with showrunner Dario Scardapane and Marvel Studios executive producer Sana Amanat to dive into the next chapter of Daredevil and Kingpin. The duo discussed the journey of bringing this new version of Daredevil to life after a creative overhaul, and revealed what familiar corners of the original series they will focus on.
Elevating The Strength Of Netflix's Daredevil In Daredevil: Born Again
"All Television, At The End Of The Day, Is Two Characters In A Room Having A Conversation"
Earlier this year, a couple of Scardapane's Daredevil: Born Again comments dominated the headlines when he referenced how Netflix's Daredevil, at its worst, had two characters just talking about the concept of heroism. However, one of the strengths that is seen early in Daredevil: Born Again is in an episode 1 scene where Matt and Wilson Fisk meet at a diner.
Scardapane clarified those comments, saying that they "were taken way out of context" before acknowledging that "all television, at the end of the day, is two characters in a room having a conversation. And the thing about the Netflix show is they did that really, really, really well."
Scardapane says he was referring to "the length and breadth of a lot of those scenes in the older show. I did the exact same thing in this show with enthusiasm and abandon." In many ways, Daredevil: Born Again is simply trying to amplify what made Netflix's Daredevil the success that it was.
I don't really think that what was taken as a swipe was meant as a swipe.
"That is a nod [to] the diner scene in Heat. It's two fantastic actors rubbing up against each other and laying out the battle that is to come," Scardapane says, "I embrace that stuff. I don't really think that what was taken as a swipe was meant as a swipe."
Amanat added, "We also pulled so much from what we loved about that old show, which ultimately comes down to the character dynamics." While she stressed that "the action is amazing," Daredevil: Born Again, as a show, "is [about] the drama of two people hating each other and sitting in one room is where it all lives."
Scardapane even called out one of the "finest moments" in Daredevil season 2, which literally had "two characters on a rooftop talking about if killing is good or bad" between Frank and the titular hero. Amanat shared the same sentiment: "Oh my God, I absolutely, absolutely love that."
How Daredevil: Born Again Fits Into The Bigger Marvel Cinematic Universe
"You Get To Play With This From The MCU"
After having previously worked on The Punisher, Daredevil: Born Again is Scardapane's second MCU project. This time, though, he's on showrunning duties and a driving force behind the series. Scardapane spoke previously about concepts that had to get retooled in service of the larger MCU continuity, so ScreenRant asked if he could shed any light on some of those early ideas that were scrapped from the Daredevil: Born Again story.
Ultimately, though, Scardapane says he didn't "really feel like there was much that had to change to fit into the MCU." He explains, "A lot of the stuff that I started out with, you saw - the first 10-15 minutes of the first episode, that was the pitch. This is what happened in their lives, and we go off the back of that."
However, the Daredevil: Born Again boss added that "there hasn't been a lot of, 'Do this, so it fits into the MCU.' There has been, 'You get to play with this from the MCU,' in terms of when I came in to pitch [them] what I would do with the show, it remained pretty consistent." In the end, Scardapane expressed that "the only changes have been a few bonuses of characters that we've gotten to play with."
How Daredevil: Born Again Is Pulling Off A Ms. Marvel Crossover In Season 1
"We're Not Living In The Ms. Marvel World Or Corner"
One of the surprising MCU cameos that fans can look forward to in Daredevil: Born Again season 1 is a visit from one of the characters from Ms. Marvel. While Iman Vellani's titular heroine is nota part of the Daredevil. Born Again cast, Kamala Khan's father, Yusuf Khan, played by Mohan Kapur, will be showing up in the series for a special visit.
Amanat, who is one of Ms. Marvel's creators, and who also executive produced the Disney+ series, was asked about the prospect of bringing over a character from Kamala's series, which is a lot lighter in comparison to Daredevil: Born Again. "It was such a fun challenge," Amanat says, going on to discuss how it's akin to a classic MCU cameo. "We brought some of that comedic energy that the MCU is known for."
10 Netflix Defenders Saga Characters Who Could Return In Daredevil: Born Again, Ranked By Excitement
Daredevil: Born Again has gone back to the The Defenders Saga canon, and some specific Netflix characters returning in the series would be exciting.
"The challenge is we're not living in the Ms. Marvel world or corner. We're living in the Daredevil corner, so [we] just [make] sure that the tone compliments Matt Murdock," Amanat continues. While not giving away too many plot details about his appearance in Daredevil: Born Again, Amanat added that they "found a lot of richness in that, because Yusuf Khan [is] actually familiar with superpower beings."
"Even though he does not know who Matt Murdock is, it was really fun to see his reactions because he wasn't actually as shocked as you might've thought." Amanat also teased, "There are a couple of cool moments that we got in there that were a bit of a wink to Ms. Marvel, so hopefully people are going to really enjoy that episode."
Is A Daredevil: Born Again Love Triangle On The Horizon?
"All I can say is I love them!"
One of the most exciting returns to forward to in Daredevil: Born Again is Jon Bernthal's Punisher, marking his first time back in the MCU since The Punisher season 2 in 2017. For long-time viewers of Daredevil and The Punisher, the dynamic between Frank Castle and Karen Page is one of the most beloved. With both Karen and Frank back in Born Again, could their romance finally see some sparks?
Amanat wouldn't reveal too much. "I can't say anything. All I can say is I love them! [laughs]" Scardapane, however, dropped a very big tease, stating that "there's been Frank Castle, Karen Page, and Matt Murdock as being a little bit of a triangle..."
Amanat also shared how much she loves Frank and Karen, referencing how Frank "just looks at her, and they look at each other, and that says everything. And that's something that we talked about a lot in the writers' room."
Daredevil: Born Again premieres with the first two episodes on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:00pm PT/ 9pm ET., followed by weekly releases only on Disney+.
Check out our other Daredevil: Born Again interviews with:
- Charlie Cox & Vincent D'Onofrio
- Brad Winderbaum
- Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
Source: ScreenRant Plus
Daredevil: Born Again
- Release Date
- March 4, 2025
- Network
- Disney+
- Showrunner
- Chris Ord
- Directors
- Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
- Writers
- Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree
Cast
Matt Murdock / Daredevil
Wilson Fisk
Daredevil: Born Again follows blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York. As he manages a bustling law firm, former mob boss Wilson Fisk navigates political ambitions, leading both men toward a confrontation as their pasts resurface.
- Franchise(s)
- Daredevil, Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Main Genre
- Adventure
- Number of Episodes
- 9
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
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