THE A-TEAM Director Joe Carnahan Reflects On His Unmade DAREDEVIL Movie Set In 1970s Hell's Kitchen

THE A-TEAM Director Joe Carnahan Reflects On His Unmade DAREDEVIL Movie Set In 1970s Hell's Kitchen

Joe Carnahan was months away from shooting a Daredevil movie in 2012, but the project fell apart when Marvel Studios regained the rights to the Man Without Fear. Now, he's reflected on the unmade project.

By JoshWilding - May 09, 2025 05:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Daredevil
Source: CBR

The Daredevil movie starring Ben Affleck was released in 2003, with Elektra following two years later. Neither of them was a critical or commercial success, and 20th Century Fox shelved the Man Without Fear. 

However, in 2012, Fox realised that the rights to Daredevil were about to revert to Marvel Studios, as there was only so long they could keep the character without putting him on the big screen. Kevin Feige offered to let them keep Matt Murdock in exchange for Galactus and the Silver Surfer, but Fox refused and attempted to get a movie from The A-Team and The Grey director Joe Carnahan into development. 

There wasn't enough time, meaning Daredevil returned home and eventually found himself in the hands of Marvel Television and Netflix. 

Talking to CBR, Carnahan reflected on not getting to make his version of Daredevil that, according to previous comments from the filmmaker, would have been set during the 1970s and heavily inspired by Frank Miller's comics. 

"You know what's funny? My Daredevil was a trifecta, and it was Daredevil '73 which was classic rock, Daredevil '79, which was punk rock, [and] Daredevil '85, which was new wave. That was, those are my movies, right?" Carnahan shared. "So I think for me, you know what it is? The A-Team was as close as I ever came to, like a guy with a cape, you know?"

"And then, I mean, the El Chicano that just died a horrible death, but it was a really cool, kind of, like, a Latino Punisher kind of a thing. But, I guess those are movies I love to watch and want nothing to do with. Like, I love Star Wars. I don't want to make one. And also, I don't think they let me anywhere near it."

"I enjoy the execution of those, like a fan, sitting in a theater watching them. But, is there stuff [I would work on in the genre]? Like Daredevil, but Daredevil is a blind guy that has this extra sensory thing," he continued. "I'm interested in that, the kind of the street level [characters], you know, guys that aren't really blessed with anything other than this something has been they've been deprived of something. So they have this extra sensory skill."

Asked if he's watched Daredevil and Daredevil: Born Again since his movie fell apart, Carnahan admitted, "It's hard for me to get into that. I think I got my heart broken by not being able to do it. And I know Charlie Cox is great. My buddy Dario Scardiopane runs the show. I love [Jon] Bernthal to death. I should have better reasons for not having seen it, but I don't."

While we're sure Carnahan's gritty, like very grounded, take on Daredevil would have been fun to watch—and suitably violent—but his track-record as a director is a little hit-and-miss, and it's hard to say whether he'd have been the right fit for 'ol Hornhead (especially if Fox was rushing to bring anything to the screen). 

It's interesting that Feige was eager to get his hands on Galactus and the Silver Surfer as far back as 2012, and we can now only imagine what the Infinity Saga might have looked like had Fox taken the deal. 

Charlie Cox would have never played Daredevil, and Marvel Studios would have regained the rights to the vigilante at the same time they acquired the Fantastic Four and X-Men, courtesy of the Disney/Fox merger. Perhaps the Mutant Saga would have included a Daredevil movie?

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UnderBelly
UnderBelly - 5/9/2025, 5:53 AM
This guys has got to be one of the most underrated directors. Smokin' Aces, his version of A- Team, The Grey, were great films.

Can't say I've seen his more recent stuff though, like Copshop or Stretch. But had A-Team been more of a financial succuess i'd think he's be a much bigger name by now.

I can only imageine how hid Daredevil would have looked.

ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 5/9/2025, 6:14 AM
The A-Team was surprisingly good, and very rewatchable
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/9/2025, 6:50 AM
I saw the sizzle reel he had produced for Fox in order to give the vibe to them of what he was going for and it was cool , seemed reminiscent of DD S1 specifically…

I haven’t seen a lot of Carnahan’s work thus far but the couple projects I have in the A-Team & Boss Level were enjoyable imo though not necessarily indicative of whether he was the right fit for the tone of this (I haven’t seen The Grey but I hear it has emotional & philosophical themes that could have worked for this DD film)

Anyway it all worked out for the best regardless imo but a period DD film set in the gritty NY of the 70’s-80’s would have been nice to see!!.

?si=2eU7n2A_EoW6Iq3o
TrentCrimm
TrentCrimm - 5/9/2025, 7:51 AM
The sizzle reel he put together to pitch this is available online and it makes me wish he got a shot at it so badly.
TrentCrimm
TrentCrimm - 5/9/2025, 7:52 AM
?si=IcDmr5iYrQpy16th
alleverybody
alleverybody - 5/9/2025, 10:37 AM
@TrentCrimm - I remember watching the sizzle real. Very cool mood piece.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 5/9/2025, 8:23 AM
That sizzle reel is CLASSIC. Would’ve loved to have seen his take.
BruceWayng
BruceWayng - 5/9/2025, 8:48 AM
“Smokin’ Aces” is a criminally underrated movie. If you haven’t seen it do watch it and I guarantee you’ll wanna see this guy make a CBM.

His sizzle reel for DD was so creative and different when it came out. I wish we got that in between the Affleck DD and the Netflix show

User Comment Image
Ghoul
Ghoul - 5/9/2025, 9:52 AM
I actually seem to remember his 70s daredevil idea coming before the joker movie with Joaquin. That sizzle real I think was really inspiring/ impactful in terms of showing what could be a cool idea.
alleverybody
alleverybody - 5/9/2025, 10:40 AM
Sizzle real. ?si=6O6XljIn1M2eu-ok

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