The title "Daredevil: Born Again" carries a dual meaning. This latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series on Disney+ tells the story of a blind lawyer who fights crime in Hell's Kitchen, New York, and its title originates from a significant storyline in the original comics: Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's 1986 work, "Born Again."
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03-20, 2025However, the series is not an adaptation of that particular storyline. Instead, the title refers to Daredevil being "reborn" into the continuity of the MCU. It is essentially a revival or direct sequel to Netflix's beloved and critically acclaimed "Daredevil" series, which ran for three seasons starting in 2015 but was abruptly canceled in 2018 despite its popularity.
The good news is that the original cast is returning. Charlie Cox is back as Daredevil (and his daytime alter ego, Matt Murdock), and Vincent D'Onofrio reprises his brilliantly charismatic (pun intended) nemesis, Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin. In addition, Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson return as assistants Karen Page and Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, and Jon Bernthal plays the much-loved psychopathic vigilante, the Punisher.
Even better news is that this latest iteration is off to a strong start after the first three episodes. "Daredevil: Born Again" wisely doesn't stray from what made the original series so great. It retains the gritty style and tight, visceral, close-quarters action sequences of the earlier series. But the show is at its best when Cox and D'Onofrio are simply verbally sparring across a table.
The show also inherits the uneven pacing of the Netflix series. But if we could tolerate it before, we can tolerate it again for at least nine more episodes with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. So, who exactly is Daredevil?
Daredevil originally appeared in comic form in 1964. It tells the story of Matt Murdock, who was blinded as a child when his eyes were exposed to a radioactive substance, but discovered that his other senses were enhanced to superhuman levels. Fast forward to adulthood, after his father is murdered by the mob (a common trope in superhero origin stories), Murdock becomes a successful lawyer. But secretly, he also trains with a blind ninja master named Stick. Murdock combines these ninja skills with his superhuman senses to become Daredevil, protecting Hell's Kitchen from organized crime and supervillains.
Daredevil is essentially a street-level hero. Yes, he has superpowers, but he's not Thor, nor does he wear a high-tech battle suit like Iron Man. His arch-enemy, Kingpin, is a mob boss who controls Hell's Kitchen. It's also a comic steeped in Irish Catholic symbolism and lore. Daredevil often explores themes of guilt, savior complexes, and the pressure to always strive to be a good person. Similarly, Daredevil story titles often have religious overtones, such as "Armageddon," "Guardian Angel," and, of course, "Born Again."
Back in 2015, Netflix's "Daredevil" felt refreshingly different compared to the more colorful, high-tech, high-concept series like the Avengers, X-Men, and Spider-Man. It was positioned as a masked crime drama rather than a superhero show, appealing to both casual viewers and comic book fans. It was violent, yes, but the violence had a purpose. It had weight. The fights mattered and were up close and personal. After a fight, Daredevil would have blood on his knuckles. He would need stitches and rest to recover.
With the show's undeniable success came a slew of spin-offs that failed to reach the high bar set by "Daredevil." While Netflix never explicitly stated why the show was canceled, it was likely the result of the streaming platform calculating that continuing to produce the expensive "Daredevil" series would lead to diminishing returns, coupled with Disney's announcement of plans to launch its own streaming service and the company (which owns Marvel) wanting to bring its intellectual property under its own roof.
Fans were understandably outraged and worried that the character might disappear forever or be recast and reimagined by Marvel Studios. But as it turned out, the #SaveDaredevil group didn't have to wait too long. Three years later, in 2021, Charlie Cox's Murdock made a brief appearance in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" as Peter Parker's lawyer. The character reappeared in the Disney+ series "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" (2022) and "Echo" (2024). "Daredevil: Born Again" officially began development and filming in 2022 but was completely revamped in 2023, with the original directors replaced. The series finally premiered on Disney+ on March 4, 2025.
Even without having seen the original series, "Daredevil: Born Again" is understandable, but it is essentially the show's fourth season. The story picks up directly after the end of season three, with Daredevil having once again defeated Kingpin, nearly beating him to death. However, the finale left enough suspense to set the stage for a perfect start to the new series. "Daredevil: Born Again" is streaming on Disney+, with new episodes released every Wednesday.
