Concrete details are scarce for the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again, but the newest batch of set photos strongly support a popular plot theory.
Very few specifics are known about the MCU’s upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, but the newest batch of set photos seems to support a popular theory about the central plot. Daredevil has already popped up in the MCU twice following his original Netflix series, having short stints in Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law season 1, and Echo season 1. Now, all eyes are on his full reintroduction in Daredevil: Born Again, which will premiere sometime in 2025.
Daredevil: Born Again has had a famously difficult road to production, with progress halted in 2023 for a complete top-to-bottom rework and a reenvisioning of Matt Murdock’s latest adventure. Details have remained largely under wraps then, but set photos and official still are slowly painting a picture of what audiences can expect. The last batch, featuring Punisher and a new government task force, makes it look like Marvel Comics’ Devil’s Reign story may be providing inspiration.
Daredevil: Born Again Set Photos Strongly Tease The Devil’s Reign Story
Given Kingpin’s story in the MCU so far, it’s long been theorized that Daredevil: Born Again would draw inspiration from the Devil’s Reign story. In short, the source material sees Wilson Fisk become mayor of New York City and outlaw all vigilantes. Kingpin uses his political influence to form task forces to hunt down and arrest vigilantes, which puts several Marvel heroes – including Daredevil, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, and more – in serious danger.
The MCU already began setting this up when Kingpin saw a news broadcast about the NYC mayor position needing an outsider at the end of Echo. However, new set photos from Daredevil: Born Again reveal Kingpin’s task force will indeed be making an appearance. It’s unclear how much of the Devil’s Reign story Born Again will adapt, but it’s fairly clear that it’ll at least be serving as a major inspiration.
The set photos, shared by @SplashNews on Twitter/X feature several police officers in combat gear. Instead of standard NYC police patches, however, they sport something new. Each one has a logo with an eagle and the text “Anit-Vigilante Task Force New York City – Mayor Fisk.”
Click here to see the Daredevil: Born Again photos featuring Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force
Why Devil’s Reign Is Perfect For The MCU Right Now
A major complaint about the MCU since the end of the Infinity Saga is that its stories haven’t felt very unified. While not every story in the early MCU was connected, strong throughlines built upon each other to make the shared universe feel truly dynamic. It’s not too late for the Multiverse Saga to do the same, but it needs to start soon. The MCU phases 4 and 5 have been building up more street-level heroes, and Kingpin can be their narrative Thanos.
Though he was originally introduced in Daredevil season 1, Kingpin has now also tussled on-screen with both Hawkeyes (Clint Barton and Kate Bishop) and Echo (Maya Lopez). While the Avengers have Kang to worry about, those operating on the streets of NYC may have a more personal threat in Wilson Fisk. The soon-to-be-mayor can be a unifying threat for everyone from Spider-Man to the rest of the Defenders, offering narrative unity to an otherwise scattered portion of the MCU.
Latest Daredevil: Born Again Images Tease The MCU Adapting Punisher’s Controversial Logo Change
Somewhat recently, Marvel Comics moved away from the classic Punisher skull logo. First, Frank started wearing a new, more stylized skull as he joined The Hand for a short mini-series. Then, Marvel’s new Punisher (Joe Garrison) debuted and sported a more abstract skull formed by plates of armor and his belt pushes. Marvel hasn’t commented on why the change was made, but Punisher co-creator Gerry Conway has been open about his disdain for the logo being used by law enforcement. In 2020, he said the following on Twitter/X:
As to the debate over whether the Punisher symbol can ever be a symbol for justice — I agree that’s an open question. What it must *not* be is a symbol of oppression. I want to deny police the use of the symbol by claiming it for BLM. Call it irony.
It’s unclear to what degree Daredevil: Born Again will tackle the issue of law enforcement using a symbol originally designed to represent unhinged rage and self-destructive violence, but the aforementioned set of photos reveal that it’ll play a role to some effect. In the images, armed men (though it’s unclear if they’re NYC police, a private paramilitary group, or simply Fisk’s sanctioned enforcers) can be seen with Frank’s iconic skull painted on their armor.
The MCU has never shied away from politically charged stories, but it’s hitherto kept the connections relatively abstract. If Frank Castle deals with the appropriation of his logo in Daredevil: Born Again, it’ll likely spark heated discussion both in and out of universe. Only time will tell, and more details will be revealed whenever a Daredevil: Born Again trailer is released or when the series debuts in full next year.
