Imagine it or not, greater than ten years have handed for the reason that authentic Daredevil collection debuted as a game-changing Netflix streaming authentic in early 2015, introducing Charlie Cox because the Satan of Hell’s Kitchen. He reprised the position of Matt Murdock for Daredevil: Born Once more earlier within the 2025 TV schedule, and this efficiency was rather more consistent with the Netflix present than his look in She-Hulk. The main man appeared again on the authentic audition course of and when he knew he could be taking part in the Marvel hero.
Cox, who will return as Daredevil in 2026 for Season 2 of Born Once more, opened up on Deadline’s Crew Name podcast about his a number of rounds of auditioning for the starring position in what could be the present that set the stage for collection like Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. He shared:
I bear in mind in one of many remaining rounds, we had been studying the scene. There’s a scene in Episode 2 the place I’ve a Russian man tied up on a rooftop. I’m there with Rosario Dawson. Though at this level, she clearly wasn’t forged. And I bear in mind one of many strains is ‘I’m doing this as a result of I take pleasure in it.’ ‘My secret is I’m doing this as a result of I take pleasure in it.’ It was one thing like that, I can’t bear in mind. It was a very cool scene. It’s fantastically written. It was one of many episodes that Drew Goddard wrote.
It is unusual to assume again to a time when not solely was Charlie Cox not but confirmed for the MCU, however Rosario Dawson was nonetheless auditioning to play Claire as properly. I really went again with my Disney+ subscription to rewatch the second that Cox talked about, which was again within the days of Matt Murdock nonetheless sporting his primary black go well with and masks. (The second begins at across the 40-minute mark in Episode 2 of the unique Daredevil, if you wish to revisit it your self.)
I might completely forgotten that Matt had flung a person off of a rooftop early within the collection, though the circumstances actually weren’t the identical as his confrontation with Bullseye to start out Born Once more. Actually, trying again at this level, I want that Jon Bernthal’s violent Frank Fortress might meet Season 1 Matt Murdock and watch that interplay. So far as I am involved, I can see why it is a scene that locked Cox in for the position that might massively change his profession (and his physique). He went on:
I bear in mind doing it a bunch of occasions. I can’t bear in mind, they gave me a selected be aware towards the tip, and we did it yet another time. They usually mentioned within the room, ‘That’s Matt Murdock. That’s Daredevil.’ I don’t really know what it was that was totally different. However I bear in mind feeling the power within the room change.
Charlie Cox could not know what precise change was the one which received him the position of Daredevil, but it surely was sufficient to not solely propel him by way of three seasons of his Netflix solo present, but additionally one season of The Defenders and now a brand new present on Disney+. The model of Born Once more that in the end launched on the Disney streamer felt much more carefully tied to the Netflix collection than was initially deliberate, with Elden Henson’s Foggy initially being killed off-screen and Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen being omitted solely.
The inventive overhaul for Daredevil: Born Once more introduced in Dario Scardapane, who had been a author and producer for The Punisher again within the Netflix days, as showrunner, and he pushed for Karen and Foggy’s returns. Alas, Foggy’s return did not final lengthy, however the Born Once more Season 1 finale set Karen up for what might be a a lot larger position in Season 2 reverse Charlie Cox.
Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Once more is at the moment in manufacturing, with an anticipated premiere date in March 2026. Within the meantime, you may at all times revisit these authentic first three seasons or take one other take a look at Born Once more Season 1, all on Disney+.