The MCU’s head of streaming has recently clarified how past TV shows fit into the MCU, and the confirmation makes a Daredevil villain way scarier.
Daredevil and the rest of the Defenders Saga shows are officially and fully MCU canon, and that has some terrifying implications for one of Daredevil: Born Again’s confirmed villains. Details about the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again have been trickling out for quite some time. The show is highly anticipated as the original Daredevil series remains one of the best superhero TV shows of all time, though production was halted mid-filming to completely rework the show from the ground up. Amid these reworks has been the confirmed or strongly rumored re-introduction of several previously established characters.
One such character who’s been confirmed to be back is Benjamin Poindexter, AKA Bullseye (Wilson Bethel). Poindexter was a wonderful addition to Daredevil season 3, who almost succeeded in taking down Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox). However, with his previous story and cliffhanger ending now confirmed canon, Bullseye is set to be even more terrifying than he was before.
Bullseye’s Daredevil Season 3 Cliffhanger Ending Is Now Canon
Bullseye was only present in the third season of Daredevil, but he quickly became a fan favorite. Like his comic book counterpart, this version of the character had incredible aim and an unstable psyche. However, he spends most of his time impersonating Daredevil to ruin his reputation. The end of the show teased a big upgrade for Poindexter that would finally let him more fully fulfill his skills in Marvel Comics. Until now, it was unclear if that cliffhanger upgrade would remain part of his story in Daredevil: Born Again.
With the Defenders saga officially being considered part of MCU canon (and not just vaguely connected with it), the surgery Poindexter receives at the end of Daredevil season 3 will have been completed. Though details are scarce in the show, Bullseye is shown to be getting back surgery after Kingpin slammed him into a brick wall, and his eyes take on a new bullseye pattern. One can look to the comics for more information on what this surgery means and why it makes Bullseye so scary.
Upgraded Bullseye Will Be A Much More Powerful Foe Than He Was Before
The doctor performing Bullseye’s surgery in Daredevil season 3 is Dr. Oyama. In the comics, Kenji Oyama is a famous surgeon who has mastered working with the fictional metal Adamantium. As such, it seems the metal being fitted to Poindexter is likely Adamantium, which could make him nearly unbreakable. Given that Matt Murdock and Benjamin Poindexter were fairly evenly matched in their fights in Daredevil, the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen may be in for a rude awakening the next time he comes across his hyper-accurate nemesis.
Adamantium is the metal that famously covers Wolverine’s skeleton and claws.
How Else The MCU Canon Update Might Affect Daredevil: Born Again
Given Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have already reprised their roles as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk in the modern MCU, it’s been clear that the Defenders Saga is at least soft canon. However, until recent confirmation from Marvel Studios’ head of streaming, it was unknown if the full run of each Defenders show would remain intact. Now that this is confirmed, it could inform several important plot points for Daredevil: Born Again.
The movie likely has the most immediate effect on Matt Murdoch’s closest friends, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page. At the end of Daredevil season 3, the trio reforms their law firm, adding “Page” to the end of the former “Nelson & Murdock.” As such, odds seem high that the two will be back and playing an essential role on the legal side of Matt’s crusade.
Daredevil’s temporary teammate Luke Cage could also appear in Daredevil: Born Again, and if he does, he might find himself at odds with Murdoch. At the end of Luke Cage season 2, the titular hero assumes control of Harlem’s Paradise, a club from which the borough’s crime is run. Though his attempt to control crime after deciding he can’t stop it still has reasonably noble intentions, it’s unlikely Matt would support the strategy.
Moreover, the canon confirmation of Daredevil seasons 1-3 is bad news for Stick, Daredevil’s former mentor, who was killed by Elektra. Elektra herself, however, could return, as she was seemingly killed in The Defenders when a building exploded with her in it, but without a body ever being shown, she could indeed have survived. How much of the old Daredevil series makes it’s way to Daredevil: Born Again is unclear, but all will be revealed when the show releases on a hitherto unspecified date in 2025.
