The Netflix seriesDaredevilwas the first entry in The Defenderssaga, but with very few appearances by his former team members, many have wondered whyDaredevil: Born Againhas featured so few of them in the newMarvel Cinematic Universeseries.TheDefenderstimelinewas built out over the course of several years, seeingDaredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist come together to take on the threat of Alexandra Reid and the Hand.This culminated in the titular series,The Defenders, which was released in 2017.
TheDefendersshow rosterholds a generally positive reception to his day, but it wasn’t without its less well-received moments and series, either.WhileDaredevilis generally considered the best of the series, others likeIron Fistfaced more derision than acclaim.Still, even at their worst, each of these shows had many redeeming elements, and characters like Jessica Jones and The Punisher were given a great deal of time to shine. However, it seems that many of these characters won’t appear in thecast ofDaredevil: Born Again, raising questions about their respective stories.
Only One Of Netflix’s Other Heroes Is Back In Born Again
Jon Bernthal Returns To The MCU As Frank Castle
Daredevil: Born Againoriginally went into production under the consideration that this would be a new version of the character in the MCU, which essentially eliminated the possible return of other heroes from Netflix. However,after a creative overhaul, many changes were made, and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher was confirmed to return for the show.Based on the advertising, it seems that Frank Castle may be an important and recurring part of the series, although he did not appear inDaredevil: Born Againepisode 1 & 2.
Instead,Daredevil: Born Againepisode 2 features the skull symbol associated with the character, though thePunisher’s logo is notably differentin its first appearance. Rather than being used by Castle himself, the symbol is first seen as a tattoo on another character, with an American flag on the skull’s forehead that appears toreference the iconography of the “Blue Lives Matter” movement. The tattoo is worn by a crooked cop, and this suggests some new, twisted ways that Castle and his efforts may be viewed in future episodes of the new series.
What Happened To The Defenders At The End Of Netflix’s Series
Many Of The Characters Are Still Active In Different Ways
Many of the characters that were featured in The Defenderssaga are still active and alive, and even the ancillary characters who are dead, like Elektra, could return at some point. There are manyDefenderssaga cliffhangersthat still could be addressed and resolved in the MCU.Colleen Wing has taken over the role of the Iron Fist, Jessica Jones is still alive and working in New York, and Luke Cage has even taken over Harlem’s Paradise,suggesting many interesting opportunities for the future of each of these characters.
There were plans forLuke CageandIron Fistcontinuationson Netflix, but none of these ever materialized after the series were canceled. However,characters like Jessica Jones and Colleen Wing have remained fan favorites, and there have been consistent rumors about each of them appearing in future MCU projects, andIron Fist is rumored to return to the MCU inEyes of Wakanda. Each of these new stories could easily align with the events that were told through The Defenders saga, especially ifDaredevil: Born Againfurther proves the promise of expanding this side of the franchise.
The Defenders Could Still Return In Daredevil: Born Again
The New Series Seems To Be Pulling Directly From Marvel Comics
The MCU seems to be setting up to follow the “Devil’s Reign” story from Marvel Comics,which saw Daredevil and a team of street-level heroes fighting against Wilson Fisk after he became mayor of New York City.WithFisk already calling out Spider-Man and other heroesinBorn Again, it seems likely that this is the natural progression of this story. Bringing in the Defenders team from Netflix makes sense for the threat Fisk poses, and could allow for crossovers with larger MCU characters like Moon Knight or Hawkeye.
Jessica Jones is rumored to appear inDaredevil: Born Againseason 2, and it stands to reason that other heroes and villains of the past could appear in the new show as well. If Marvel decides to follow the “Devil’s Reign'” story, there are ample opportunities to fit each of these characters into the story.Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Colleen Wing, and Elektra, or any mixture of these characters, would make sense to bring in considering their current place in the universe.It seems inevitable that some kind of team-up like this will eventually occur.
Every Returning Marvel Character In Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again is bringing back many Marvel characters from the old Netflix series, including those that have already breached into the MCU.
Daredevil: Born Againwas not originally intended to be so linked to the Netflix story, which meant thatthe series was structured and shaped without consideration for the Defenders team. However, more recent changes makingNetflix canon to the MCU, and these considerations were likely brought in during earlier stages of development on future seasons ofDaredevil: Born Again, meaning things could look very different going forward. It is almost assured that some of the Defenders will appear in the MCU again soon, hopefully playing impactful and compelling roles.
