While I’m very excited about the upcoming release ofDaredevil: Born Again, I’m confused about one key plot point in theMCUseries, and the events ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawhas made this even worse. I have loved watching Charlie Cox’s portrayal of blind lawyer-come-vigilante Matt Murdock since he first appeared as the Man Without Fear in Netflix’sDaredevilseries.Born Againwill thankfully be continuingDaredevil’sstories, as theDefenders Saga is now MCU canon, but I’m confused about the upcoming show’s actual place in the MCU.
Thefirst trailer forDaredevil: Born Againhas revealed an intense and dark new adventure for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, as he goes back into battle against the likes of Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin, Benjamin Poindexter’s Bullseye and the enigmatic Muse.I can’t wait to see Charlie Cox’s Daredevil back in action, especially after getting glimpses of him inSpider-Man: Homecoming, She-Hulk: Attorney at LawandEcho. However, I’m also curious about how Marvel Studios will explain one major timeline discrepancy I’ve noticed ahead ofBorn Again’spremiere.
Matt Murdock Is Retired In Daredevil: Born Again
Matt Murdock Will Not Be Daredevil When Born Again Begins
One of the key things I noticed fromDaredevil: Born Again’strailer is that it begins withMatt Murdock having retired as Daredevil. The trailer hints that, at some point, Murdock crossed the line while operating as Daredevil, whichsome have theorized means he may have killed someone, forcing him to hang up the cowl and resume life as a regular lawyer. This seems to allow him to enter into a tenuous truce with Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, which I’m excited to see, but Daredevil’s retirement raises some big questions for the MCU.
Of course, it doesn’t seem likeDaredevil: Born Againwill go too long before Matt Murdock suits up as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen once again. Charlie Cox is expected to sport abrand-new, brighter, more MCU-appropriate Daredevil costumewhile fighting alongside the likes of Frank Castle’s Punisher and Hector Ayala’s White Tiger against some formidable new villains. As excited as I am, however,I’m very confused about the details surrounding Matt Murdock’s retirement inDaredevil: Born Again, as this makes little sense in the MCU’s timeline.
Daredevil’s Retirement Doesn’t Make Sense In The MCU After She-Hulk
Daredevil Suited Up Alongside Jennifer Walters In She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
A retirement storyline for Matt Murdock inDaredevil: Born Againwould certainly be very interesting under normal circumstances, but in the current MCU timeline, I don’t think this makes a lot of sense.Matt Murdock was not retired during the events ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which was set in 2025 in the MCU’s timeline, whileDaredevil: Born Againis seemingly set in the MCU’s present day of late 2026.Born Againmust be set after the events ofEcho, which teasedWilson Fisk’s Kingpin becoming Mayor of New York City, andEchowas also set in 2025.
DaredevilSeason 1
2015
DaredevilSeason 2
2016
2017
DaredevilSeason 3
2018
2021
2022
2024
Daredevil: Born Again
2025
It’s possible that Matt Murdock retired asDaredevil afterShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but this year-long gap wouldn’t really be a meaningful amount of time, and would surely be considered just a brief hiatus rather than an honest-to-goodness retirement.Daredevil: Born Again’strailer makes us think Murdock has been retired for quite some time, but the timeline ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawandEchomakes this impossible. I reckon Marvel Studios could implement an old MCU theory to explain these timeline issues, but even this has problems.
Daredevil: Born Again Could Explore A Mostly-Unseen Period In The MCU
Daredevil: Born Again Has Been Speculated To Explore The Blip
Ever since the series was first announced by Marvel boss Kevin Feige, there has been speculation thatDaredevil: Born Againcould explore the five-year-long BlipfromAvengers: Endgamein more detail. Examining this world-changing event from the street-level perspective in the MCU is something I’ve been desperate to see, and this could explain the timeline issues that I’ve spotted inBorn Again’strailer.We know Daredevil was active in 2018, as he fought Maya Lopez during that time, but he didn’t reappear until the 2024-setShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
In December, Bullseye actor Wilson Bethel revealed thatDaredevil: Born Againwill pick up five years after the end of the original series, which concluded in 2018. This impliesBorn Againwill, at least partially, be set during, or shortly after, the Blip in 2023.
This would give Matt Murdock more than enough time to have a meaningful retirement, perfectly setting the stage forDaredevil: Born Againto explore his return to action. This makes me thinkDaredevil: Born Againmight take place over several different time periods in the MCU’s recent history, investigating the Blip, the period shortly before She-Hulk, and the period following Wilson Fisk’s decision to run for Mayor at theend of the 2025-setEcho. I can’t wait to see Marvel Studios' explanation for this timeline discrepancy inDaredevil: Born Again.
Cast
Daredevil: Born Again follows blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York. As he manages a bustling law firm, former mob boss Wilson Fisk navigates political ambitions, leading both men toward a confrontation as their pasts resurface.
