The plans for Daredevil: Born Again have changed in a big way.
According to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, the reset button has been pushed on Daredevil: Born Again following its shutdown due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. It's noted that less than half of the show's 18-episode order had been filmed, but the result had Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige feeling that the series "wasn't working." This led to the quiet firings of head writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman, while the directors on board for the remaining episodes to shoot were also let go. The search has since begun for new writers and directors.
The report claims that Disney+ executives are also looking to change the way they approach shows developed for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, given the decline in acclaim and viewership for these series, as was the case with Secret Invasion falling short with critics. Disney+ will be shifting to develop television content in a more "traditional" way moving forward. Marvel's head of streaming, TV and animation, Brad Winderbaum, said, "We’re trying to marry the Marvel culture with the traditional television culture. It comes down to, ‘How can we tell stories in television that honor what’s so great about the source material?’”
Why Was Daredevil: Born Again Overhauled?
Details have also been revealed on why Daredevil: Born Again is getting a creative reboot in the midst of production. Ord and Corman reportedly developed a series that was more of a legal procedural drama, and the issue was that it felt too far removed from the action-packed three-season Daredevil series. Cox is said to have not even put on the Daredevil suit until the fourth episode, and this seems to have left Marvel Studios feeling like Born Again wasn't exciting enough in this form.
While Marvel will "keep some scenes and episodes," much of what was shot could wind up getting scrapped with other serialized elements added in. Ord and Corman are also still on board as executive producers. The report also referred to Daredevil: Born Again as a two-season series, so there are apparent plans to keep the show going for at least another season, despite these behind-the-scenes issues. Meanwhile, this new plan for Marvel shows will also entail hiring showrunners, creating show bibles, and shooting pilots to better assess a show's potential before ordering full seasons.
Daredevil: Born Again isn't expected to arrive earlier than January 2025, but no official premiere date has yet been set on Disney+.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter