Was ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Initially Planned as a Comedy Series?

With the highly anticipated release of Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again approaching, there has been a whirlwind of speculation regarding the show’s original concept. Recently, showrunner Dario Scardapane took the opportunity to clarify that the series was not intended to be a comedic take, dispelling widespread rumors to the contrary.

Daredevil: Born Again, which serves as a spiritual continuation of Netflix’s Defenders universe, has recently attracted attention not only for its storyline but also due to behind-the-scenes drama. Following extensive reshoots prompted by the Hollywood strikes, the show underwent significant changes. The original showrunners, Matt Corman and Chris Ord, were replaced by Scardapane at Marvel’s behest. Notably, some familiar faces from the previous Netflix series, including Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson, will join Charlie Cox in reprising their roles.

Early previews suggest that Daredevil: Born Again will retain the intense violence and gritty atmosphere characteristic of its predecessor. The narrative will primarily focus on Matt Murdock (Cox) and his formidable adversary, Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio).Recently, comic book creator Rob Liefeld stirred the conversation by claiming on X (formerly Twitter) that most episodes underwent significant reshoots and that the series was initially conceptualized as a comedy. His statements seemed to resonate with the broader discontent prevalent among some fans regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in recent years.

Dario Scardapane Addresses Comedy Rumors

In a recent interview with ComicBook, Scardapane firmly refuted the claims that the series was ever intended to take a comedic angle, stating: “This all happened very, very recently, and from my understanding, none of that was accurate.”

Scardapane acknowledged Liefeld’s assertion regarding the involvement of stunt director Phil Silvera—who worked on both Daredevil and Deadpool—to enhance action elements. However, he clarified that Silvera did not direct the episodes and emphasized, “What I saw when I got in and started playing around wasn’t a comedy.” This reassures fans that the tone will remain consistent with the serious nature of the original series.

Given that Netflix’s Daredevil is known for its dramatic storytelling rather than humor, it seems unlikely that Daredevil: Born Again will shift towards a lighter tone akin to recent MCU entries like She-Hulk: Attorney at Law or Thor: Ragnarok. The series has also received a TV-MA rating, suggesting audiences should expect more visceral action rather than comedic interludes.

Liefeld’s recent comments about Marvel leadership also hint at his grievances with the studio, especially after feeling overlooked at a Deadpool and Wolverine after-party. He described the experience as intended to “embarrass, diminish, defeat” him, as discussed in a recent episode of his podcast Robservations.

While it’s likely Daredevil: Born Again will include its share of humor, the overall intent appears to remain firmly rooted in the action-driven, serious storytelling that fans expect from the franchise. Audiences can make their own evaluations when the series premieres on Disney+ on March 4, 2025.

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