Leaked footage of Daredevil: Born Again has Marvel fans fearing for the fate of a beloved character
Potentially major spoilers follow for Daredevil: Born Again and the superhero’s comic book history.
The first images of Daredevil: Born Again has been leaked online – and Marvel fans are panicking about what it could mean for the fate of a beloved character.
Despite the best efforts of Marvel’s security team, it’s becoming a near-impossible job to stop hungry Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans from posting all kinds of BTS images and videos from the real world of the Disney Plus show. set. Indeed, given Daredevil: Born Again Set in New York City, Marvel is currently filming the R-rated superhero show on location – one that will give it a real level of authenticity, but hasn’t stopped MCU diehards from leaking snaps and BTS footage while principal photography continues is underway.
Unfortunately, this means that some of the Marvel Phase 5 show’s potentially major plot points will find their way online. That includes a pivotal scene ripped straight from Daredevil’s illustrious comic book history, and fans are freaking out about what it means for one of Man Without Fear’s closest allies.
I can’t stress this enough, dear reader: I’m about to get into it potentially huge spoiler territory for Daredevil: Born Again and the character’s 60-year comic book series. Turn back now if you don’t want to know anything about the series or the source material it may draw inspiration from.
Taking a (Karen) page out of Daredevil literature
🚨 Leaked BTS from Marvel Studio’s ‘DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN’ series #DaredevilBornAgain #Daredevil pic.twitter.com/9BxsibPddGFebruary 6, 2024
As the X/Twitter video above confirms, Matt Murdock/Daredevil will *ahem* battle Bullseye, one of his most dangerous opponents, in Reborn. Bullseye, real name Benjamin Pointdexter, made his live-action debut in Daredevil season 3 is over on Netflix, with Wilson Bethel playing the rogue gunslinger who spends much of that season posing as Daredevil.
Bethel’s Bullseye was initially not expected to return Reborn – which, honestly, Daredevil season 4 in total, except for the name at this point. However, after Marvel’s top brass ordered a complete rethink Daredevil: Born Again after the first set of footage failed to meet expectations, the Disney subsidiary opted to tie it down Daredevil TV revival in Netflix’s adaptation. That meant bringing Bethel’s Bullseye into the equation, and confirming the return of two popular characters from Netflix’s series. Daredevil series in the form of Foggy Nelson by Elden Henson and Karen Page by Deborah Ann Woll.
As Murdock’s two best friends and closest allies, it was a major mistake for Marvel not to include the duo in the first place, but I digress. It’s the last of that pair – Woll’s page – that is roiling fans’ minds, with many fearing for her safety amid Daredevil and Bullseye’s likely hectic showdown currently being filmed.
In Daredevil Part 2 #5, which was released in March 1999, Bullseye kills Page when she dives to intercept a Billy Club thrown at Daredevil by the former. Page’s death is one of the most shocking and important moments in Daredevil comic history. Some even argue that its significance is on par with Gwen Stacy’s death in the Spider-Man source material. The leaked images of Reborncould then be the start of this hugely impactful plot point, which spells life-threatening danger for Page if that’s the route Marvel takes.
However, I would be baffled if Marvel chose to bring Nelson and Page into the fold to kill one or both of them. Certainly, Page’s death would make for a heartbreaking piece of television, especially for fans of Daredevil’s comics and/or original TV series. However, the storytelling style known as ‘fridging’ – where a character is killed to provoke an angry response from a story’s hero – is tired and clichéd.
Marvel has already faced fierce criticism from some quarters for pulling similar stunts with Black Widow Avengers: Endgame and Maria Hill Secret invasionso you’d think the comics giant would have learned from those experiences and not provoke even more ire from fans wondering whether they should stick with their flagship cinematic juggernaut.
Of course, the clash between Daredevil and Bullseye does not mean that Page and/or Nelson will die Reborn. One or both could end up seriously injured by Bethel instead, sidelining them for much of the show and allowing Charlie Cox’s titular vigilante to spend the rest of the season doing what he does best: fighting crime. Personally, I hope the leaked footage is a misdirection on the character death front – otherwise Marvel will get one lot from angry fans calling them out and then some.