Daredevil: Born Again showrunner compares the Marvel series to The Penguin 

Dario Scardapane, the showrunner for Marvel's upcoming series Daredevil: Born Again, has drawn intriguing comparisons between his show and HBO's The Penguin. He emphasizes that Daredevil: Born Again is set to be a far more grounded and faster-paced story.

Scardapane believes that the new series will diverge significantly from the Netflix iteration of Daredevil, focusing less on introspective dialogue and more on action and character development.

This shift in storytelling style is intended to resonate with viewers looking for a more immediate and visceral experience, akin to classic crime dramas like The Sopranos and King of New York.

He mentioned in an interview with SFX,

"It has elements of The Sopranos and King Of New York. There's a feeling for those classic '90s crime tales."

The showrunner recognizes The Penguin as a peer competitor, appreciating its success in bringing a specific texture that fuses some superhero sensibilities with real-world grime.

He said in the same interview,

“It's really strange. You work in a vacuum and then something else comes out and you go, 'Oh, wow'. I would say in many ways The Penguin is our direct competition."

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The tonal and aesthetic shift in Daredevil: Born Again

Scardapane is explicit that Daredevil: Born Again is going to be far removed from what it was on Netflix. He explains the earlier series was "much more noir," whereas the new show will feel like a "New York crime story."

He said in an interview with SFX,

"I really feel that Netflix's Daredevil, which I know in my blood, was much more noir, and this show is more New York crime story."

According to Scardapane, the earlier series often had long speeches, which made the action inconsistent with these speeches. In contrast, he wants longer scenes that maintain their momentum while still providing impact storytelling.

This fits with a wider trend in superhero television, in which emotional depth is balanced by exciting narratives.

Inspired by crime dramas that are acclaimed, Daredevil: Born Again aims to create a story that resonates with contemporary audiences and feels relevant.

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Grounded storytelling in a superhero context

Both Daredevil: Born Again and The Penguin focus on grounded storytelling within their respective universes. While many of the recent superhero shows have leaned into fantastical elements, these two series aim to explore the darker sides of their worlds through a more realistic lens.

Scardapone said to SFX,

"However, we're even more grounded, even less stylized, even more rooted in the here and now. I loved Penguin. We're a little faster, meaner, cleaner in our storytelling.”

Scardapane notes that his series will delve into the criminal underbelly of New York City, providing an intimate look at the struggles faced by its characters. This street-level narrative focus creates the opportunity to explore characters at a deeper level and provides context that is easily relatable for viewers.

Instead of cosmic villains, Daredevil: Born Again focuses on the struggles of Matt Murdock with organized crime; this can provide authenticity to viewers looking for truth in superhero tales.

Comparisons to The Penguin illustrate how these shows can reimagine expectations of their respective franchises by focusing more on character-led stories than elaborate spectacle.

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Competition and expectations

Scardapane has recognized that The Penguin is a strong competitor for Daredevil: Born Again. He appreciates how The Penguin has found its niche in the DC universe by focusing on character development and gritty realism.

Such success makes the bar very high for Marvel's upcoming series, which needs to tread similar thematic ground but find its own identity.

Though it has been an uphill task during production, considering creative overhauls in shooting, Daredevil: Born Again is promising. The commitment from the showrunner to take Daredevil as far as a Disney+ show can go is telling of the readiness of Marvel to take risks on the delivery side to have an engaging narrative.

According to Scardapane, this new version is "as far as a Disney Plus show has ever gone," indicating boldness that can redefine Marvel's approach to storytelling on streaming platforms.

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By comparing it to HBO's The Penguin, he emphasizes a shared commitment to grounded storytelling but promises a faster-paced narrative that prioritizes action and character development.

As both series dig deep into the intricacies of their respective worlds, they may lay the groundwork for a new wave of superhero storytelling that speaks profoundly to audiences in search of truth amidst fantasy.