Daredevil: Born Again is coming to an end. Marvel Television's revival of the beloved Netflix series will conclude with Season 3, bringing Charlie Cox's latest stint as Matt Murdock to a close. While that may sound like the end of Daredevil's time in the MCU, there's reason to believe this could instead be the beginning of something much bigger.
With Avengers: Secret Wars expected to usher in a new era for the MCU, Marvel Studios has an opportunity to rethink how it uses the Man Without Fear. Rather than continuing with another season of Born Again, the studio could move Daredevil into movies, make him a full-fledged Avenger, or even give him another series with a completely different direction.
If this really is the end of Born Again, where does Daredevil go from here? From a long-awaited team-up with Spider-Man to the possibility of a solo movie, these are some of the most interesting directions Marvel could take the character next.
Daredevil: Born Again...Again?
When the credits roll on Avengers: Secret Wars, we anticipate having an all-new, all-different MCU. For starters, it will be a world that's inhabited by the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man. It stands to reason then that Daredevil will also get a fresh start.
So, could Daredevil be...born again? It's feasible that we'll get a new series revolving around the Man Without Fear; it could pick up where the last one left off, or take the hero down a completely new route, whether it's Shadowland or a tonal shift like the one in Mark Waid's Daredevil run.
We certainly wouldn't say no to a new Daredevil series, and the third time could be the charm for 'ol Hornhead. However, we have a feeling that bigger and better things await Matt Murdock...
Spider-Man 5 Is The Obvious Next Step
Before taking centre stage in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jon Bernthal's Punisher had appeared in Netflix's Daredevil, two seasons of a so-so solo series, and Disney+ Special Presentation, The Punisher: One Last Kill. Now, he's the star of one of the biggest superhero movies ever.
The Punisher's stock has risen, and there's bound to be a lot of excitement to see what comes next for Frank Castle. Now, it's time for Daredevil to get the same treatment, with a full-blown co-starring role in Spider-Man 5 that fans have been demanding for several years.
Regardless of why Daredevil: Born Again has ended—and it's likely a business decision based on ratings—this is the logical next step for the character. Seeing the hero, in a comic-accurate red suit, would leave fans grinning from ear to ear; so why not make it happen?
A Daredevil Movie Might Work
The disappointing box office returns of movies like The Marvels, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts* have given Marvel Studios pause for thought when it comes to bringing streaming characters to the big screen.
The issue there, however, was that the studio expected viewers to have watched countless hours of television to fully appreciate those movies. A Daredevil feature could mark a true fresh start for the hero in the MCU, fully standing apart from what's come before.
Daredevil needs a new villain, and there are plenty to choose from in the comics. Throw The Punisher in as a supporting character—it could even be a full-blown Daredevil/Punisher movie—and a well-publicised appearance from a heavy-hitter like Spider-Man, and this could succeed.
It's Time For Matt Murdock To Join The Avengers
While Daredevil has frequently rejected offers to join The Avengers, the Man Without Fear has frequently assembled alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes and will be part of a new post-Avengers: Armageddon lineup later this year. That could set the stage for the same to happen in the MCU.
Whatever the next iteration of the MCU's Avengers looks like, Daredevil should be a member. Yes, it's a much bigger stage than his TV-MA street-level adventures, but Matt has often had a foot in both worlds, so this could work if it's handled the right way.
An Avengers movie is the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Daredevil to audiences, and what better stage to place him on? Charlie Cox deserves this; he's been part of the MCU since 2015 and has yet to be showcased in a way his talents deserve. It's time to make him an Avenger.
Could This Be The End Of The Road?
This is a question that, however uncomfortable, needs to be asked. Charlie Cox had a fun series of cameos in the MCU before Daredevil: Born Again, and when all is said and done, Matt Murdock will have been front and centre in 25 episodes of television. That's not bad.
Now, as the MCU looks to enter a new era of storytelling revolving around the X-Men and new characters like Ghost Rider, could Marvel Studios choose to move on from Daredevil? There's a very real chance, especially if Born Again is considered a failed experiment.
After all, Marvel attempted to deliver a yearly series for an older audience, and viewers haven't necessarily shown up. That leaves 'ol Hornhead in a strange place, but as one of the best characters in comics, he and Cox deserve better than being indefinitely shelved.