Daredevil will make his highly anticipated return to the small screen in Daredevil: Born Again, but only some are thrilled with the outcome. One former crew member of the Netflix series thinks the upcoming show has made a significant mistake.
When Netflix's collection of gritty and mature Marvel series was canceled, this was an exceptionally tragic turn of events for Daredevil fans. The series was celebrated for its authentic and dark portrayal of the lawyer Matt Murdock and raised many questions about how the MCU would incorporate him into the universe. Charlie Cox remained a fan-favorite portrayal, and it seemed like it would be a waste if he couldn’t return as the vigilante. Fortunately, Cox returned with varying cameos in Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk, implying that Daredevil may become a major MCU figure.
Sure enough, the MCU show titled Daredevil: Born Again was shortly announced, causing collective relief among the fanbase. But not everyone is pleased with the upcoming series. One crew member who used to work on Netflix's Daredevil raised concerns about how the series will be handled when it premieres. “They really, truly don’t want it to be anything like the Marvel Netflix Daredevil,” stuntman Chris Brewster reflected on the Izuko Unscripted podcast. “So, nobody that worked on the original series, other than the cast that they’re bringing back, is coming back.”
Brewster was not just an employee of the series but a self-proclaimed fan. He went on to credit the Netflix series with authentic portrayals of characters, as well as the creatives behind the scenes. According to the crew member, one of the biggest challenges is that Marvel does not want Daredevil: Born Again to be reflective of Daredevil in any way. Though certain cast members are being brought back, that could be the only thing remotely reminiscent of the beloved series.
This shouldn’t come as a complete shock, even to passionate fans of the original. Daredevil's appearance in She-Hulk seemed like a sign of what was coming. Marvel Studios' takeover of the Marvel TV department has created a more carefree and humorous tone for its series. But as understandable as this is, that doesn’t mean it’s not disappointing. Netflix productions have always excelled at using superheroes to tell emotionally resonant stories. Jessica Jones told substantially candid storylines about trauma, while The Punisher had an equally important conversation about PTSD.
It seems unlikely the MCU will be capable of continuing this discourse. And while fans will have to decide if the show holds up, it may be some time before they can do so. Daredevil: Born Again has hit another setback because of the writers' strike, meaning it could potentially be years before Cox's return. At least in the meantime, fans can revisit all three seasons of the original.
Daredevil: Born Again is scheduled to premiere on Disney Plus in early 2024.
Source: Izuko Unscripted