Is Daredevil: Born Again a reboot or a sequel? What to expect from the return to Hell's Kitchen

The highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again has sparked considerable debate among fans, with many wondering whether it is a continuation of Netflix's Daredevil or a complete reboot of the character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). So what is the answer?

While the series promises to retain the essence of its predecessor, subtle shifts in tone and storytelling suggest a new direction for Matt Murdock's journey, one of the biggest questions surrounding Daredevil: Born Again is whether it is a direct continuation of the Netflix series.

Many fans have noticed the tonal shift in Matt Murdock's appearances in She-Hulk and Spider-Man: No Way Home, raising concerns about whether this is the same character they followed for three seasons and thus could turn fans away from the show.

But Charlie Cox, who stars as the titular hero, addressed these concerns in a recent interview, explaining how this version of Daredevil fits into the modern Phase 5 MCU; even if things might be slightly different.

"It should be and it is always the same character," Cox told reporters. "The difference is just like with people, we morph and change and are very different based on what's going on in our lives.

"The Matt Murdock from the Netflix show, that world and what was going on for Matt meant that most of the time we were living with a man who had a huge amount of pressure and strain, and tonally the show was very dark and gritty and heavy.

I don't know what the new show will be like, but when I came over to do Spider-Man and She-Hulk, the tone is much more lighthearted and tongue in cheek and fun and witty and full of levity.

"So the hope was that Matt can fit into that world and participate in it without it being a different character, a different person. I certainly had a really good time exploring that, experimenting with it, and seeing if it fit."

Officially, Daredevil: Born Again is being treated as a soft reboot, designed to bridge the gap between Daredevil Season 3 and a new narrative direction. The show does not directly follow any specific comic book storyline but aims to reintroduce familiar characters at different stages of their lives.

The exact extent of continuity between the Netflix series and the new MCU timeline remains uncertain.

Who is in the new Daredevil: Born Again?

Slated for release on March 4, 2025, exclusively on Disney+, Daredevil: Born Again was initially set for a Spring 2024 premiere. However, delays caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes led to a significant overhaul, ensuring the show would better align with the original Netflix series' continuity.

The first trailer, released on January 15, 2025, offered a glimpse into the show's darker, grittier tone, emphasizing intense action sequences and high-stakes drama. Fans of the Netflix series will be pleased to see that the brutal, grounded nature of Daredevil remains intact.

Vincent D'Onofrio will reprise his role as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, fresh off his return in Echo. Other confirmed cast include Margarita Levieva, Sandrine Holt, and Lou Taylor Pucci. Additionally, Arty Froushan has been cast as Harry, a new character introduced in the series. However, the biggest casting news is the return of Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, marking his long-awaited MCU debut.

Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios' Head of TV and Streaming, has promised that Daredevil: Born Again will be one of the most "brutal" Marvel stories to date, reassuring fans who feared a watered-down version of the character.