Daredevil Star Charlie Cox Doesn’t Think Born Again Will Follow Comics

Daredevil: Born Again star Charlie Cox doesn’t think the upcoming Disney+ show will follow the comic that it’s named after. After making high-profile appearances in Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Cox will make his proper MCU debut with Daredevil: Born Again. Described by Cox as a “whole new thing,” and not simply a fourth installment of the Daredevil series on Netflix, Born Again is highly-anticipated due to the popularity of the character and the praise that Cox has previously garnered for his portrayal. It’s also planned as the longest Marvel show yet for Disney+, clocking in at 18 episodes.

In an interview with inews.co.uk, to promote his role in the limited spy series Treason, Cox also discussed his recent MCU appearances. Even though the actor mentioned that he has yet to read scripts for Daredevil: Born Again, he shared his view that the Disney+ series is unlikely to follow the seminal Born Again comic, which was written by Frank Miller and drawn by the artist David Mazzucchelli. Cox indicated that the name was chosen as it’s familiar to fans, but that it likely wouldn’t follow the same stories as the source material. Cox’s thoughts, and his quote, are included below:

“The only way I’ll change is if, tonally, the show is very different. [But] I don’t think anyone should read into the name as to the kind of stories that we’re going to tell.”

What Was Daredevil’s Born Again Comic About?

The story of the Born Again comics saw the titular character descend into insanity and destitution because of Kingpin’s actions. The arc also follows Daredevil’s struggle to build a new life. The comic, which makes heavy use of Christian symbolism, is considered by many to be one of the best stories involving Daredevil. There was praise for Miller’s writing and Mazzucchelli’s artwork, and the overall thrust of Daredevil’s rise and fall. The success of Born Again led to a sequel of sorts, titled Last Rites, which featured Daredevil getting his revenge on Kingpin by destroying his reputation and taking away his possessions.

Parts of the story have already been factored into Netflix’s Daredevil during its last two seasons, with lines from Born Again appearing in Daredevil and its spinoff The Defenders. With so little known about what the MCU version of Matt Murdock will look like once he takes center stage, it’s likely the case that the Disney+ series will pay homage to the comics. But, at least for his part, Cox sounds like he’s managing expectations for what viewers should anticipate his solo Marvel outing will look like.

Regardless, the name works as an homage and an acknowledgment that Cox is back in the role after years away. Beyond that, based on everything that Cox himself has revealed so far, it sounds like his return in Daredevil: Born Again won’t be as gory as the last series and potentially not as tortured as the source material. As filming on the project begins, fans will begin to get more concrete plot details.