Marvel Admits ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Isn’t Working

Charlie Cox in 'Daredevil' (Image: Netflix)

Daredevil: Born Again, which promised fans another taste of Charlie Cox as the iconic Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, seems to be taking a few punches of its own.

It sounds like Marvel’s getting cold feet.

Writers Corman and Ord envisioned a courtroom drama far removed from the gritty streets and brawls we relished in the Netflix original.

Picture this: Daredevil, minus the signature red costume, is embroiled in legal debates for four whole episodes. Apparently, Marvel’s initial enthusiasm faded fast.

This isn’t the first hurdle for the show.

Remember the WGA writers’ strike that delayed production? Or the less-than-stellar reception to the initial footage in June, which led to a Marvel-induced panic?

It’s not every day to witness the comic giant admit to missteps, but they confessed the show “wasn’t working.”

This sentiment resulted in the exit of the show’s head writers and the directors for future episodes. Marvel is reportedly rebooting the series, a hint that they still believe in the Daredevil legacy.

Recall our last rendezvous with Daredevil in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law?

But with this recent revamp, it seems Marvel TV is facing teething troubles, a far cry from its cinematic dominance in the past decade.

Since WandaVision‘s 2021 debut, the studio has churned out an ambitious 50 hours of TV content.

But, haste makes waste. Ditching the traditional TV production approach of pilot screenings, Marvel opted for a big splash with $150 million streaming seasons.

The Daredevil storyline has always held promise – from Fisk discovering Daredevil’s secret identity, a crucial pivot in both the comic, Born Again, to the reunion with his estranged mother, Maggie Murdock.

But with Born Again, it appears Marvel wants to redefine its approach to television.

While fans are desperate for another Daredevil run, it’s clear Marvel doesn’t want an incomplete storyline. Bringing showrunners on board and differentiating film and TV executives suggests their intent to refine and refocus.

What’s the way forward for Daredevil: Born Again?

Despite the setbacks, Marvel seems committed to the project.

And as Vincent D’Onofrio (the beloved Kingpin) opined creative evolutions are a staple in the industry. “It’s simply a bunch of creatives doing their best to get it right,” he tweeted.

Well, fingers crossed, Marvel gets it right this time around. After all, Hell’s Kitchen waits for no one.

Dhara Bhavsar