Daredevil: Born Again will continue many parts of Netflix’s Daredevil series, but it appears to be leaving one aspect behind. The MCU’s upcoming Daredevil series has gone through many confusing creative decisions. Initially, it tried to create a new story, but with Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returning as their respective characters. However, it went through a massive rewrite, signaling that it would make the Netflix series canon to the MCU and continue the story from there. The show brings back many Daredevil characters, like Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page, and Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson.

An important character whose return hasn’t been confirmed is Elodie Yung’s Elektra. Her romantic relationship with Matt Murdock was pivotal to Daredevil season 2 and The Defenders, but Yung remains absent from the MCU’s new series. While Yung’s performance was a highlight, her omission means that Marvel appears to be wisely moving away from the least interesting part of the Netflix series to keep the focus on the show’s best storyline.

Elektra’s Absence Means The Hand Likely Won’t Be Involved In Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil season 2 introduced Elektra as a romantic interest for Matt Murdock, as well as a complicated anti-hero. She was a fellow trainee of Stick who tried to recruit Matt to join the Chaste. She reappeared years later, asking for Matt’s help in investigating the Hand, who believed her to be the Black Sky, the prophesied leader of the Hand. After getting killed in a fight, she is resurrected and becomes the Hand’s leader in The Defenders. However, the Hand is ultimately defeated by Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist, but her fate is still unknown.

Elektra’s absence from Daredevil: Born Again means the Hand will likely not factor into the series, and that’s for the better. The Hand was a downgrade from Daredevil’s conflict with Kingpin, putting Matt in a more global situation. It also felt out of place within the show’s environment, as the Hand dealt with mysticism and ancient lore. While conflict with ninjas isn’t new for Daredevil, it didn’t fit the Netflix series and should’ve stayed in a more fantastical series, like Iron Fist. The Hand was an interesting threat for The Defenders, but it distracted from what made Daredevil so captivating.

Could Elektra Return In The MCU?

Elektra’s return is not impossible. Daredevil survived the same rubble that Elektra was also buried under, so it’s possible she made it out and is keeping a low profile. Even if she did die, she has been resurrected once, so death for her is more of an inconvenience. In a March interview with toofab, Yung addressed a possible Elektra return, saying she would love to return, but audiences would need to ask “Mr. Marvel.”

Oh my gosh, I would love that. It’s so funny because my fans are like, ‘Can you come back?’ and I’m like, ‘Ask Mr. Marvel’, you have to ask Mr. Marvel for that, not me.

Considering the large amount of creative changes Daredevil: Born Again has gone through, it’s possible that they could reconsider Elektra’s presence in the series. There’s also the possibility that Elektra returns in a more mystical franchise, like Shang-Chi or Iron Fist. Even though she played an important role in the Netflix series, Marvel appears headed in the right direction with Daredevil: Born Again.