Daredevil: Born Again will take the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a darker, more violent place as the upcoming series looks to make the most of its R-rating. According to Marvel Studios Head of TV and Streaming, Brad Winderbaum, Born Again is far more violent than the original Daredevil series. Starring Charlie Cox as the titular hero, Daredevil featured some of the most brutal scenes shown in a comic book series, including waves of bloody fight scenes and even some scenes depicting torture. Fans were worried when Disney and Marvel Studios announced they were continuing the character’s story in a new Disney+ show, as fans expected the House of Mouse to tone down the level of barbarity, but it appears that Born Again is going above and beyond.
Producer Brad Winderbaum sat down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss the upcoming slate of Marvel’s Disney+ projects, which also includes Agatha All Along, and Marvel Zombies. Showcasing R-rated violence in Daredevil: Born Again has been a long-running topic of discussion among the fan base, and a featured talking point among the show’s stars. Winderbaum weighed in on the matter, promising that Daredevil: Born Again will live up to fans’ hopes, and then some. He explained:
“I’ll tell you, some of the most brutal action we’ve ever brought to the screen is coming in Daredevil: Born Again, which isn’t a horror show, but it really packs a lot of power and there’s a lot of visceral action.”
Jon Bernthal & Vincent D’Onofrio Claim Daredevil: Born Again Is More ‘Extreme’
As previously mentioned, Disney honoring the original show’s R-rating has been one of the biggest talking points among the fan base since the announcement of Daredevil: Born Again. Winderbaum isn’t the only person attached to the project who has reassured fans about Born Again being a bloody and brutal affair, as almost every cast member has been asked a similar question during past interviews. Appearing at D23 to showcase the first trailer for the new series, Jon Bernthal (who plays The Punisher in the original series, and his own spin-off show) promised that Born Again will go a “step further” than the beloved original.
Also appearing at D23, Vincent D’Onofrio, who plays the show’s most violent character (which is saying something when he shares the screen with The Punisher), Kingpin, mirrored his co-star’s sentiment. D’Onofrio gave a few more details about the level of violence in Born Again, teasing that some parts of the new show “go much further… than we did on the original show.” Kingpin is potentially the most violent Marvel villain ever put to screen. When the character is finally revealed in Season 1 of the original show, he is shown decapitating a Russian mobster with the door of his car. The scene was absolutely shocking, but is apparently tame compared to Born Again. D’Onofrio teased fans by saying:
“There’s one thing in particular that my character does that I can’t believe made it into the cut.”
Daredevil: Born Again
premieres on Disney+ in March 2025.