Daredevil: Born Again splits its story into two seasons after an unexpected creative twist, opting for a more solid and focused approach
When Marvel Studios announced Born Again, they surprised audiences with the promise of a season of 18 episodessomething unusual in their productions for Disney+, which tend to be around 6 chapters. However, this ambitious proposition soon faced creative challenges, resulting in the series spanning two seasons nine episodes each.
A strategy for success
As explained by Brad Winderbaum, head of streaming, television and animation at Marvel Studios, this change was born in response to the lessons learned during the “experimental phase” of the first MCU series. “Our first idea was to try a longer format,” he said in an interview for Hero of the stage. “We wanted to build a bigger world around Daredevil and New York, but we learned a lot in the process.”
Additionally, Winderbaum noted that the writers’ and actors’ strike allowed Marvel to rethink storytelling. “This gave us the opportunity to choose the nine best episodes. Now it feels like a solid, complete first season.”
Why was 18 episodes too many?
The main problem came from how the episodes were structured. According to previous reports, the first four or five episodes barely showed Matt wearing the iconic Daredevil costume. While this structure would work in a movie, for a weekly series it could be frustrating for fans. The decision to divide the story allows for a more agile and captivating pace..
Winderbaum also stressed that the long-term plan is for Daredevil: Born Again to become a multi-season series. This could emulate the pattern of previous hits like Agents of SHIELDalbeit with a clear preference for quality over quantity.
Daredevil returns with familiar allies and enemies
The series marks the return of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer with superhuman senses who fights for justice. At his side will be the iconic villain Wilson Fisk, played again by him Vincenzo D’Onofrionow headed towards political ambitions that will inevitably clash with the past they share.
The cast includes big names like Jon Bernthalwho will reprise his role as the Punisher, and other veterans like Deborah Ann Woll Yes Elden Henson. Additionally, new faces are added like Margherita Levieva, Michele Gandolfini Yes Arty Froushan.
What can we expect from Born Again?
With its premiere scheduled for March 4, 2025 on Disney+, the series promises to bring the Man Without Fear back to his darkest and most complex roots. Fans have high expectationsespecially since this new phase of Marvel Studios seems focused on correcting the mistakes of the past and offering a more solid and coherent narrative.
In Winderbaum’s words, Daredevil will not only be a mainstay in this series, but will appear in future projects alongside characters like The Punisher. With a creative team led by Dario Scardapane and directors like Justin Benson and Aaron MoorheadBorn Again has all the tools to become a huge success.
Will this new installment be able to live up to the iconic Netflix series? Only time will tell, but it’s clear that Marvel Studios is betting big on this production as a rebirth of the superhero genre on television.
A new standard for Marvel on television?
With a renewed focus and a luxury cast, Daredevil: Born Again seeks to position itself as one of Marvel’s most ambitious productions. Cutting down episodes may be the key to more intense storytelling, but will it exceed the expectations of discerning fans? The answer will come in 2025.