Along with "The Punisher" spin-off, "Daredevil" was one of the highlights of the Marvel series on Netflix. Nevertheless, Disney was long reluctant to integrate the franchise into the MCU. With "Daredevil: Born Again", the company is now daring to do so - but does the new project have any chance of matching the success of the dark and brutal streaming hit? And is it a full reboot or is it more of a sequel? Get all the information now - in our new KinoCheck Original!

The Reinvention of Daredevil

The new series was first announced in May 2022. Fans of the concluded Netflix version were pleased to hear that lead actor Charlie Cox will also play the eponymous hero in the MCU. Vincent D'Onofrio was likewise confirmed as Kingpin once again. Both have since appeared in various MCU projects.

However, this also raised the question of how the two series actually relate to each other: Is "Daredevil: Born Again" simply a sequel, basically a season 4 of the old series? Or is it a full reboot that still features the same actors? Disney was secretive and stated that it would pick up on parts of the Netflix version, retell some of it, but disregard other parts. Further characters such as Karen Page, Foggy Nelson and the Punisher were not expected to return for the time being.

Disney Backtracks

The first 6 episodes of the new season were filmed and shown to test viewers in 2023. The outcome was so disastrous that Marvel didn't just slow things down a bit, but instead set the entire production back to square one. All directors, scriptwriters and showrunners were fired and replaced.

The whole thing happened at a time when Disney was generally reconsidering its approach to the MCU and wanted to focus more on quality than quantity in future. And in this case, quality probably means even more focus on the Netflix model: the majority of the old cast should be back, meaning Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson and Jon Bernthal in his role as Frank Castle aka the Punisher. Also to be seen again is Wilson Bethel as Bullseye. However, everyone involved reiterates that this is by no means a continuation of the previous three seasons.

Will the Daredevil Reboot Succeed?

Dario Scardapane, who had already written the screenplay for "The Punisher" series, was appointed as the new showrunner. The episodes are now set to be directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. The two have experience from "Loki" and "Moon Knight". Philip Silvera, the same stunt coordinator who was responsible for the Netflix series, has also joined the team.

The new orientation raises hopes that Disney has also taken the fans' criticism to heart. When Daredevil appeared in the "She-Hulk" series, there were already complaints that the character was presented in a too ridiculous way. The later spin-off "Echo", by contrast, was already more convincing with its greater sense of seriousness.

The first set pictures also convey the impression that they really want to go back to the roots: the classic Daredevil costume is back and Frank Castle is covered in blood. So we can presumably expect dark, down-to-earth and dramatic action on the streets of New York again.

The Plot of Daredevil: Born Again

The new series' story is to be partly based on the "Born Again" comic series by Frank Miller. Moreover, "Devil's Reign" by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto will play a key role. One thing's for sure: both series are extremely dark and bloody.

If you would rather not know anything about the content of the comics, you should skip the following part to avoid spoilers: You have been warned!

In "Born Again", Karen Page has become a serious drug addict. In order to keep financing her addiction, she sells the true identity of Daredevil to Kingpin. He then gradually begins to destroy Matt Murdock's life.

The plot of "Devil's Reign" is already hinted at in the post-credits scene of "Echo", in which Wilson Fisk learns that the people of New York want a new and strong mayor. He assumes this position - but Matt Murdock is appointed as deputy mayor. In this story, Kingpin knows nothing of his true identity. As a mayor, Fisk makes it his mission to hunt down all heroes and other citizens who use the streets of New York for vigilante justice. A corresponding task force is led by none other than Frank Castle.

When is the Premiere of Daredevil: Born Again?

All in all, the series will comprise 18 episodes, which will be released in two parts. Filming for the first 9 episodes was completed in May 2024. There is no specific release date on Disney+ for "Daredevil: Born Again", but we do know the month: March 2025. So we are already looking forward to presenting you with a first trailer - it was already shown to a live audience at a Disney event in May.