How does Daredevil: Born Again connect to the previous Daredevil series? In a recent interview the main cast attempt to answer that question. Of course we know that this was not always the case. The first iteration of Born Again was trying not to connect to those shows it seems. However, fans were vocal about their disappointment with this move. Therefore, when the show was seen by Marvel execs, they decided to rewrite it and replace the writers and directors. They used this opportunity to connect Born Again to Daredevil before it and brought back Karen, Foggy, Bullseye who were all absent initially.
Of course that was then, and this is now. Daredevil: Born Again seems determined to make itself a continuation of what came before. Since Daredevil Season 1-3 were amazing, I think it’s a wise choice.
Spealing with EW, star Charlie Cox seems happy to have his old pals back, Foggy and Karen.
Getting The Gang Back Together
“The first day on set with Deborah, myself, and Elden was really special because the scene that was written was like a scene where we were reminiscing over old times and all the things we’ve done,” Cox says in the video above. “And it just so happened that we shot that very early on and we hadn’t seen each other for years. I mean, maybe not years, but we certainly hadn’t been together, the three of us, for a long time. So there was really, literally, no acting required. The conversation we were having in the green room was the same conversation we were having in the scene, pretty much.”
D’Onofrio says that when he “saw a clip of the three of them walking down the street talking together,” he “couldn’t tell if it was actually from a scene in the show or it was just them walking to set.”
Cox adds that they actually brought in props from the previous Daredevil series to use in the Disney+ revival.
“Deborah and I had a scene where we find an old box — am I allowed to say that? I think I can say that,” he says. “We had a scene where we were looking through a box and we find stuff from the past, and it was real stuff from the past. It was stuff from the old [show]. It was like a photo frame we used on a set eight years ago and we were looking at it together — well, I wasn’t looking at it. But we were reminiscing over it, and it was sweet. It was kind of a little bit of life imitating art.”
Woll agrees, adding, “Definitely a lot of no-acting-required moments. Real nostalgic.”
How Daredevil: Born Again Connects To Daredevil Series
However, the connections to Daredevil will be deeper than just the cast and props says D’Onofrio (Kingpin).
“There are storylines that reach back to the original series,” he says. “Where our characters are coming from, where we are, and where we’re going, some of those threads lead back.”
‘Cox loves having “a shared character history” between the series because “it gives such texture.”‘
“But at the same time, it can be an enemy, because that is the stuff that’s left behind you as you go forward and then you’re tied to it,” he adds. “I felt like the writers and [showrunner] Dario [Scardapane] did a really amazing job at finding a way for us to have our history, to have our connections, but not dwelling on it so much that you are tied to it the whole time.”
However, the cast do stress that this isn’t just Daredevil Season 4. You won’t have to have seen those shows to understand Born Again.
RELATED: How The Fans Saved Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again With Creative Overhaul According To Charlie Cox And Vincent D’Onofrio
‘Cox explains that they’re hoping to “attract a new audience [by] being on Disney+,” so they didn’t want to “alienate” new viewers by being a direct continuation of a show that perhaps not everyone has seen, while still serving fans who have been there since the beginning. “It’s a really tough job so I’m so impressed with what the writers managed to do by allowing us to keep that history but also present it in a way where it isn’t alienating,” he adds.’
Are The Characters Different?
“That’s a tough one because there’s only certain things we can talk about,” D’Onofrio says. “I really don’t know what I can say about that other than time has gone by. They’ve tried to adjust themselves in some way. They’ve made adjustments and that may or may not work out for them.”
‘Bernthal says that any “enormous leaps” taken with Frank or any other character isn’t done without explanation — “And not in a spoon-fed, candy-ass way,” he adds. “If there were things that were much different, that they wouldn’t just be different and you were sort of forced to accept that. It was done for a reason and very intentional. It wasn’t just huge jumps. I do continue to be blown away by how respectful this group [is] and how much these folks who lead this show demand that we’re respectful to the fans.”‘
‘Woll again promises that “our history stands” in regard to the previous three seasons. “What the characters went through still exists. That’s still part of who they are, it’s just that now we’re catching up with them at a different point in their lives,” she says.’
So, that’s how Daredevil: Born Again connects to the previous Daredevil series. What do you think of the comments of the cast? As always, leave any thoughts below.
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