After seven-plus years, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) finally returns to screens when Daredevil: Born Again hits Disney+ on March 4, 2025. Fans have been actively pushing for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen to come back since the Netflix series ended in 2018, and their wishes have finally been granted. While showrunner Dario Scardapane, directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, and executive producer Sana Amanat all play massive roles in the revival, the show wouldn’t exist without its rich comic book history.
Agents of Fandom Editor-in-Chief TJ Zwarych asked Sana Amanat about the Daredevil: Born Again comic inspirations at the global press conference moderated by Sade Spence. While Amanat highlighted an important story by Charles Soule as well as the impact of Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker, Brad Winderbaum chimed in about Frank Miller‘s impact on the series.
Sana Amanat Highlights Charles Soule’s “Mayor Fisk” Story
“I’d say Charles Soule’s “Mayor Fisk” is a good start. Always Frank Miller, of course. Brian (Michael) Bendis and Ed Brubaker, any of their runs have been a heavy influence in our tone and style. Of course I also have to credit the artist Ron Garney, as he worked with Charles Soule on multiple Daredevil runs.”
-Sana Amanat on Daredevil: Born Again comic influences
Although Charlie Cox’s embodiment of Matt Murdock is award-worthy, the show would’ve never reached the same levels of success without the earth-shattering performance of Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of crime. However, he’ll take on an even more prominent role in Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+ as they adapt the “Daredevil: Mayor Fisk” story from Charles Soule.
On the surface, it may seem far-fetched that a character who has publicly committed as many crimes as Wilson Fisk could ever be elected Mayor of New York City. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen in the real world, it’s actually quite realistic. The combination of the dark tone from the Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker comic runs mixed with elements of the Mayor Fisk storyline from Soule should be a recipe for success for Daredevil: Born Again.
Brad Winderbaum Emphasizes Frank Miller’s Influence in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
“From the “Born Again” comic, there’s a moment when he [Frank Miller] is transitioning Kingpin from a Spider-Man character to a Daredevil character. You can see him do it on the page itself. There’s three panels, where Panel A looks like Spider-Man’s Kingpin… and then lighting shifts between the panels, and by the last panel, you get the stark Frank Miller lighting.”
-Brad Winderbaum on the influence of the “Daredevil: Born Again” comic
Directors Justin Moorhead and Aaron Benson confirmed they utilized similar lighting styles in the series whenever Wilson Fisk lets out his inner demons. Vincent D’Onofrio admits he has that exact comic book panel hanging in his office, making it clear that although Frank Miller’s story isn’t being adapted in the series, the comic book of the same name still played a significant role in the creation of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.
The influence of Netflix’s Daredevil can’t be understated in returning the beloved comic book character back into a fan-favorite among superhero fans after Ben Affleck‘s dreaded appearance in the role. Only time will tell how Daredevil: Born Again adds to that legacy, but one thing is certain: the creators have rooted the series deep in the character’s most iconic influences.
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