Marvel Told Daredevil Editors Not to Watch Original Netflix Series

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Marvel Studios apparently told the original creators of “Daredevil: Born Again” not to watch the well-known Netflix series featuring Charlie Cox, as part of an initial plan to differentiate the Disney+ revival from the darker, grittier style that characterized the character in its previous incarnation.

The Editors’ Revealing Comments

The statement originates from editors Stephanie Filo and Cedric Nairn-Smith, as they discussed the show’s creation during a recent conversation with Awards Radar. As stated by Filo:

The initial plan was to steer clear of the Netflix series “Daredevil”. We were instructed not to watch the show during our editing process as they wanted to maintain a unique approach. However, once we reorganized our work and decided on a different interpretation, we returned to the Netflix version for inspiration. We even utilized temporary music from that series and aimed to recapture its grittier atmosphere.

According to Filo’s remarks, earlier reports about significant reshaping of the production process for “Daredevil: Born Again” around halfway through filming appear to be accurate.

Initially, the idea was to reintroduce the character’s presence in the MCU with a fresh start, particularly following his role in She-Hulk. However, the relatively cool response to Marvel’s recent Disney+ series like Secret Invasion might have led to a shift back towards the tone that made Daredevil beloved among fans.

Cedric Nairn-Smith mentioned that the restructuring phase brought about unexpected instances of collective creativity.

On occasion, he mentioned, we’d repeat certain episodes and occasionally be tasked with mixing up these scenes. Initially, we thought intercutting wouldn’t work since they weren’t meant to be combined. But once we began experimenting with the intercuts, we discovered some shared themes. It seemed like a serendipitous discovery that these cuts worked well together… Much of it was about trial and error in searching for those common themes, but there was also an element of strategic planning.

A Pattern Across Marvel Projects

On occasion, Marvel Entertainment has chosen not to involve creative teams with pre-existing stories. As reported by The Direct, Secret Invasion director Ali Selim stated that Marvel explicitly advised him against reading the original comic books.

In my opinion, when I first heard it, the advice given was not to delve into the comic books, as it seemed unrelated to our current objectives.

In simpler terms, this idea is consistent with what Marvel Studios’ VP of Production & Development, Nate Moore, previously stated. He mentioned that having writers who are deeply immersed in the comics can sometimes be a cause for concern during hiring. Although Marvel has grown its empire through comic-based storytelling, it seems to prefer a strategy that emphasizes “reimagining” stories rather than strictly sticking to the original source material.

What’s Next for Daredevil?

Regardless of the adjustments made, Daredevil: Born Again has had difficulty recovering the pace set by its original Netflix series. The ratings have been disappointingly low compared to other Marvel Cinematic Universe streaming projects (admittedly not setting a high bar!), yet production for a second season is underway.

It’s said that the upcoming season will bring back Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, along with Charlie Cox and Jon Bernthal reprising their roles as The Punisher. Interestingly, Bernthal’s character will also feature in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and a separate “Punisher” series on Disney+.

Whether the darker tone and nostalgia bait will be enough to win back audiences remains to be seen.

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2025-07-05 16:55