Daredevil: Born Again Cast Really Had To Save The Show?

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Summary

  • Actors advocated for expanding Daredevil: Born Again to nine episodes, indicating issues with studio decision-making.
  • Writer’s strike benefited the show as it prompted Marvel to switch showrunners and rework the storyline.
  • Despite production setbacks, the revamped show under a new showrunner has the potential to succeed and revive Marvel’s reputation.

The upcoming Marvel series titled “Daredevil: Born Again” seems to have experienced some turbulence behind the scenes. There’s been concern about the initial plan for only six episodes, which some believe might not fully exploit the show’s potential. Notably, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, who are known for their iconic roles as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk respectively, have voiced their concerns about the limited number of episodes initially planned for “Daredevil: Born Again”. After advocating for more, they reportedly succeeded in persuading Marvel to extend the series from six to nine episodes. Given the high anticipation among fans for any Daredevil project, it’s unexpected that the creative team had to push so hard for a format that would effectively portray these cherished characters.

The fact that the cast of “Daredevil: Born Again” assuming responsibility for the show’s protection implies a concerning trend in the studio’s decision-making process. Following the underwhelming response to “Captain America: Brave New World” and other recent missteps, it seems Marvel is missing the target more frequently than anticipated. The revelation that a show as cherished by its audience as “Daredevil: Born Again almost didn’t get the space to thrive” stirs significant doubts about the company’s current strategy.

Daredevil: Born Again Actors Took Control

In their conversation with GQ, Cox and D’Onofrio discussed how the number of episodes for “Daredevil: Born Again” increased from six to nine. This significant change was primarily due to the extra time they had to persuade Marvel to alter the original direction for the revival of the well-loved Netflix series on Disney+, giving them more room to explore and develop the storyline.

It appears that the writer’s strike, which caused disruptions in numerous shows, such as popular horror series like Evil, unexpectedly benefited the cast and crew of Born Again. In fact, the writer’s strike played a role in altering the management team for the show. Specifically, it led Marvel to switch out the showrunners of the Daredevil revival, Matt Corman and Chris Ord, with Dario Scardapane, who had previously worked on Netflix’s The Punisher.

According to Cox, Scardapane significantly revamped the entire series, altering its original trajectory. He was one of those advocating for expanding the series from six to nine episodes, thus providing ample opportunity to tell a comprehensive story following such a prolonged wait for Daredevil, also known as The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, to make a substantial comeback in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyond a few brief appearances.

Scardapane appeared to not just expand the series but truly grasp the elements that made the initial show a hit and enjoyable. Notably, he brought back many members of the original cast and crew such as Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), and Phil Silvera, who was instrumental in creating the iconic fight scenes. This move has made Cox and D’onofrio believe that the upcoming series on Disney+ aligns more closely with the original show that laid the groundwork for “Daredevil: Born Again.

We expressed our dissatisfaction, and it was noticed by the top management, particularly Kevin [Feige], who took heed of our concerns.

Marvel Keeps Making Concerning Mistakes

As a movie buff, I must admit it’s heartening to know that Feige and the Marvel executives took our suggestions into account. However, it’s somewhat unsettling that they had to be persuaded to bring back more of the original cast – individuals who were instrumental in making the initial series a classic. It seems their grand plan wasn’t initially to revisit these beloved characters.

Created By
  • Dario Scardapane
  • Matt Corman
  • Chris Ord
Showrunner Dario Scardapane
Starring
  • Charlie Cox
  • Vincent D’Onofrio
  • Margarita Levieva
  • Deborah Ann Woll
  • Elden Henson
  • Zabryna Guevara
  • Nikki M. James
  • Genneya Walton
  • Arty Froushan
  • Clark Johnson
  • Michael Gandolfini
  • Ayelet Zurer
  • Jon Bernthal
  • Wilson Bethel

According to Cox, Marvel should be applauded for recognizing they weren’t on the right path initially and making changes accordingly. However, with a variety of opinions about the projects launched in the MCU following “Avengers: End Game,” there’s some concern about whether Feige still possesses the same creative spark he had previously.

Daredevil: Born Again Needs To Succeed For The MCU’s Sake

Kicking off its unofficial comeback, starting from “Captain America: Brave New World“, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been releasing a barrage of content this year. However, the response to the first movie of the year hasn’t been particularly positive. Now, with “Born Again“, Marvel has an opportunity to rectify that and demonstrate that they aren’t veering off course.

Regardless of whether Daredevil: Born Again receives glowing reviews and revives anticipation for the rest of the year and future projects, there remains an underlying query. Was Feige and co.’s success due to their understanding of what appeals to audiences, or did they stumble upon a team that was so challenging to work with that they ultimately had to deliver a satisfying product against their initial preferences?

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2025-02-24 00:54