"It felt like a break-up" — Charlie Cox reflects on Daredevil cancellation at Netflix and the way forward in MCU

Charlie Cox has been Daredevil for almost a decade now. The first season began streaming on Netflix in April 2015 to popular and critical appreciation. Throughout 13 episodes, Daredevil Season 1 reminded why The Man Without Fear had a fan following ever since his first appearance in Daredevil #1 in April 1964. The show also provided something different to the viewers.

People were shocked by the violence and darkness of the show even if it was a part of the MCU. The first season directly pays reference to the Chitauri invasion of New York from The Avengers (2012). However, there was no reference to the wider MCU in Seasons 2 and 3.

But the bigger shock came to fans in November 2018 when Netflix canceled Daredevil after the third season. This cancellation resulted in a fan movement for renewal, which was supported even by the people who worked on the show. Cox recently revealed how he felt way back in 2018 when the show was canceled by Netflix.

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Charlie Cox's reaction to Netflix canceling the Daredevil series?

Charlie Cox and Wilson Bethel were guests at the FAN EXPO San Francisco 2024 to promote Daredevil: Born Again. During the panel, Cox also revealed to the audience how he felt when Netflix canceled the superhero series in 2018. He said:

"What's weird is that in 2018 when the show was canceled, I suddenly had like breaking up period, like a mourning period. I was like 'oh wow'. 'Cause we thought we were going to do a season 4, and then that didn't happen, and kind of overnight we got a phone call and it was like, 'we're done, it's finished'. It felt like a break-up, a little bit, in a kind of a weird way. And then like all break-ups, of course we got back together."

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Charlie Cox addresses his character's future in the MCU

In the same panel, Charlie Cox revealed something that may sadden fans of his interpretation of The Man Without Fear. While expressing his appreciation for the character and role, Cox also revealed that sooner or later his Daredevil tenure would end. He said this about his time playing the character:

"But now I'm aware there will presumably come a time where it really does stop happening... and the longer it goes on the harder it will be to let go of... But when I was at Comic-Con I was chatting with a couple of the Daredevil writers, comic team, and they're getting ready to release a Daredevil comic that takes place when Matt Murdock is in his 60s, so I was like 'oh okay, great, so we've got some time'".

In the same panel, Cox also confirmed that the next season would begin filming by the time when Born Again becomes accessible to the public in March 2025. The trailer was received well by fans despite the initial negative press.

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What was the negative press related to Born Again?

The series renewal was announced at the San Diego Comic-Con 2022 (SDCC 2022) and, despite the return of Cox as Daredevil/Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio as mob boss Wilson Fisk, the new show is not a continuation of the Netflix show.

Matt Corman and Chris Ord were originally hired as writers for an 18-episode series. However, an October 11, 2023 report in The Hollywood Reporter (THR) revealed that Marvel Studios eventually felt the show wasn't working.

Another THR report on October 27, 2023, revealed that a new creative team had been formed, with talents like Dario Scardapane as the showrunner, and Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson as directors. Corman and Chris Ord joined the creative team, too, and it was also revealed that Born Again would not be an 18-episode season. Instead, it would have nine episodes. The current iteration of the show reads:

"In Marvel Television’s 'Daredevil: Born Again', Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course."

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Fans can enjoy Daredevil's latest exploits in live action on Born Again from March 4, 2025. However, you don't have to wait that long for The Man Without Fear. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Cox and D'Onofrio reprise their popular roles as part of the voice cast of the upcoming animated series, although the show isn't connected to the MCU.