Daredevil: Born Again will be returning the most prominent characters from Netflix’s Daredevil, including Kingpin, Bullseye, Foggy and Karen.

Daredevil: Born Again promises to revive the characters and storylines of the previous Netflix show, bringing several notable characters into the fold of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time. Ever since Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin returned to small screens in Disney+’s Hawkeye series, fans of the moody superhero show Daredevil on Netflix have been eagerly anticipating the proper re-introduction of the Netflix Defenders timeline into the MCU. The upcoming series Daredevil: Born Again will do just that, re-integrating some of the most important characters of the original series into the fold of Marvel Studios.

Originally, Netflix’s Daredevil existed in a sort of nebulous state of half-canon in relation to the MCU, carrying a vague one-way relationship with the events of the wider story of films. The events of the series may have remained in this continuity limbo were it not for a dramatic creative re-tooling of Daredevil: Born Again that reportedly took place in late September of 2023, in which the original showrunners were fired and replaced. Moving forward from this overhaul, the series will allegedly stay much truer to the spirit of Netflix’s Daredevil, including the return of some key characters.

7. Matt Murdock, A.K.A. Daredevil

Played by Charlie Cox

To no one’s surprise, Daredevil himself will be the most prominent returning character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Daredevil show. English actor Charlie Cox became the second actor to wear the cowl of Daredevil in 2015, carrying the Netflix series as Matt Murdock. Not only is he an incredibly charismatic and relentlessly likable take on the philanthropic lawyer turned crime-fighting vigilante, but the American Foundation for the Blind awarded Cox for the accuracy with which he was able to portray a sightless character.

Recognizing the impossibility of hoping to replace Charlie Cox with a new Daredevil, the Marvel Cinematic Universe first confirmed Cox would be playing the character again with a brief cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. His lengthier appearance in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law alongside his fellow lawyer/superhero sealed the deal, reiterating that Charlie Cox was here to stay as Matt Murdock. Yet just because the same actor was portraying him, there was still no solid guarantee that the Daredevil popping up in MCU projects was indeed the same one from the Netflix series.

Even though Disney+’s Daredevil appearances have shown off a more lighthearted and comedic side of the guardian of Hell’s Kitchen to be more in-line with the general tone of the wider MCU, it does appear that Charlie Cox’s character is indeed the same one from the Netflix series. Matt Murdock was last seen developing a sunny relationship with Jennifer Walters, so it’ll be fascinating to see how the relatively happy status quo of Daredevil’s current life is inevitably upended in Daredevil: Born Again. The MCU will have to reconcile its Matt Murdock with the Netflix series’ darker tone.

6. Wilson Fisk, A.K.A. Kingpin

Played by Vincent D’Onofrio

The only performance more lauded than Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock in the original Daredevil was Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, better known as the criminal Kingpin. Forever Daredevil’s nemesis, the two’s adversarial relationship has gone from cold business and ideological differences to a very bitter and personal rivalry over the course of their history in the Netflix series. That being said, Daredevil is far from the only hero Wilson Fisk has tangled with, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and otherwise.

Wilson Fisk first reappeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Hawkeye, in which it was revealed that he had escaped prison during the Snap and had been working with Eleanor Bishop in order to maintain a fierce grip on New York. From there, he went after Maya Lopez, returning as a major antagonist in Echo only to be forced to re-live his deepest traumas. The visions he wanders through after Echo used her newfound powers on him confirmed that Kingpin, and by extension, Daredevil, would be roughly carrying over the Netflix continuity into the MCU.

Fisk was last seen expressing an interest in running for mayor in New York City, going a different, more above-board route to maintain his obsessive vice grip of power over the megalopolis. This means that Kingpin is likely to have a new layer of legal power and resources when it comes to his next battles against Daredevil, both on the streets and in the courtroom. Not only that, but his broader scope of interest targeting all of New York City implies that Spider-Man might also be crossing paths with Kingpin sooner rather than later.

5. Frank Castle, A.K.A. The Punisher

Played by Jon Bernthal

Another strong portrayal to come out of the Netflix Defenders universe, Jon Bernthal has offered small-screen audiences one of the most visceral takes on the gun-toting anti-hero ever. Initially, fears over the Punisher’s potential to be squandered due to a lack of an R-rating left it unclear as to whether Disney+ could do the violent character justice in his upcoming MCU appearance. However, the R-rating of Echo gave hope that Daredevil: Born Again will follow suit, opening up a new battleground for Bernthal’s impossible-to-look-away-from character to viciously tear through, one bullet at a time.

Frank Castle was last seen going completely off the grid and dedicating himself fully to the cause of the Punisher after rejecting an offer from CIA agent Dinah Madani, refusing to work for the government. The fierce debates about morality between Castle and Matt Murdock in season 2 of Daredevil were some of the most compelling moments in the series, and it’s possible that the two vigilantes will meet once again in Daredevil: Born Again. The mere presence of the maniacal criminal-killer is all the insurance one might need to trust that the MCU isn’t watering down the new series.

4. Vanessa Fisk

Played by Ayelet Zurer

One of the only people to ever exert some measure of control over the psychotic Wilson Fisk, Vanessa is something of a central character in the Netflix Daredevil mythos. Strangely, Vanessa Fisk was initially going to be re-cast for Daredevil: Born Again for unknown reasons, and would be played instead by actress Sandrine Holt. Following the creative overhaul, it seemed this decision was walked back, with Vanessa again played by Ayelet Zurer returning from the Netflix series. This may have been done in service of solidifying the place of the Netflix Defenders storyline within MCU canon.

Vanessa was last seen in Daredevil‘s third season, taken into custody amid the aftermath of her disastrous wedding to Wilson Fisk. Considering Fisk himself has been walking free in the MCU post-Snap, Vanessa’ absence has been a true mystery, not mentioned by Kingpin in any of his subsequent appearances in Hawkeye or Echo. From her actual status as Kingpin’s wife to her whereabouts and recent activities, Vanessa is among one of the biggest question marks in the entire cast of Daredevil: Born Again, as the series will have to retroactively explain her lack of relevance post-Netflix.

3. Foggy Nelson

Played by Elden Henson

Matt Murdock’s best friend and partner in law, Foggy Nelson was a core compenent of the emotional foundation of Netflix’s Daredevil. Balancing out the high-flying superheroics of Matt’s private life with the personal struggles and intimate drama of his courtroom career, the wisecracking Foggy served as a great foil to Daredevil. While the character could sometimes become stifling, he was undeniably a great friend and trusted confidant of Matt in Netflix’s Daredevil.

Foggy Nelson was last seen in season 3 of Daredevil dropping out of a race for District Attorney in order to instead once again join forces with his old friend, establishing the law firm Nelson, Murdock & Page. This seemingly brought things full circle back to the status quo of the show’s first season, which Daredevil: Born Again will seem to pick back up on. Initially, there was no mention that Elden Henson’s character would be returning for the new Disney+ Daredevil revival, but set photos have confirmed Foggy’s reappearance, at least since the time of the show’s creative overhaul.

2. Benjamin Poindexter, A.K.A. Bullseye

Played by Wilson Bethel

​​​​​​​For such an iconic Daredevil villain in the comics, Benjamin Poindexter only made his first appearance in the third season of Netflix’s Daredevil, and even then, he was never directly named as the villain Bullseye. After threatening Vanessa’s life, Poindexter is repaid by Kingpin with a shattered spine, leaving him in custody. Poindexter later volunteered for an experimental spine surgery to help him regain his ability to walk, in which his bones were laced with rare Cogmium steel, similar to how his skeleton receives Adamantium reinforcement in the comics.

Season 3 ends with Benjamin Poindexter all-but-officially becoming Bullseye, with the character’s signature crosshairs reflected in his eyes in his final scene. Daredevil: Born Again will include Bullseye going up against Daredevil for the first time, bringing back actor Wilson Bethel to reprise the role. Balancing out the looming manipulations of Kinpgin with a more street-level villain that can directly threaten Daredevil and his allies in a straightforward fight is a prescient idea for the series, and hopefully Bethel will have a chance to truly excel as a proper Bullseye.

1. Karen Page

Played by Deborah Ann Wool

Another trusted associate of Matt Murdock in both personal and professional realms, Karen Page is the final point of the main trio that unite at the end of the Netflix series as members of a new law firm. It’s also worth mentioning that she forms the crux of the love triangle that plays out between herself, Foggy, and Matt, though this sub-plot is mercifully short-lived. More importantly, Karen Page is a capable office manager, dedicated rehabilitator, and toughened survivor, having been through countless attempts on her life due to her sheer proximity to Matt Murdock.

Like Foggy, Karen Page was initially thought to be scrapped from the upcoming Disney+ show, though actress Deborah Ann Woll has since been confirmed to be returning as Page. Considering the character’s romantic history with Matt Murdock, it’ll be interesting to see how her relationship with him changes in the wake of Matt’s budding romance with She-Hulk. Regardless of the result, Karen Page’s reappearance rounds out the cast of Daredevil: Born Again with every critical character from the original Netflix series.