Daredevil Born Again Maintains Brutal Action
Daredevil Born Again Maintains Brutal Action: With Daredevil: Born Again debuting this week, fans have been eager to see how the brutal, R-rated action of the Netflix series translates into the more family-friendly world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Surprisingly, the answer is simple: it doesn’t change.
Stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have been making the press rounds, emphasizing that the show retains the same gritty, violent tone that made Daredevil a standout hit on Netflix. According to D’Onofrio, who plays Wilson Fisk (Kingpin), this new series is essentially a fourth season of the original rather than a full reboot. Despite Disney+ being known for its lighter Marvel fare, Born Again refuses to hold back on its intense action sequences.
Director Justin Benson, who helmed the season premiere alongside Aaron Moorhead, expressed surprise at how much of the violent content remained intact. “There were practical effects in [Born Again]… we didn’t know you could do that,” he admitted. D’Onofrio agreed, giving credit to the special effects team for making some of the most intense scenes possible. While he initially believed some of the more graphic moments wouldn’t make it to the final cut, they ultimately remained untouched.
Charlie Cox, who reprises his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil, confirmed that alternative takes were filmed in case certain violent moments were deemed too extreme. However, he revealed that every brutal leg break and fight sequence ultimately made it into the show. “No softening it up,” director Moorhead added.
Maintaining Daredevil’s street-level, raw action was a priority for the creators. The fight choreography isn’t just about spectacle—it serves the emotional and narrative arcs of the characters. Cox explained that every punch or kick is treated like a line of dialogue, with deeper meaning beyond just a standard action scene.
D’Onofrio echoed this sentiment, stating that the action only works because it is rooted in real human emotion. He promised “terribly emotional stuff” in Born Again, balancing intense fights with heartfelt character relationships. “You have some funny stuff, you have a lot of action, and you have real relationships that are failing and succeeding throughout the story,” he said.
The show’s approach to violence is not about glorification but rather showing the consequences of brutality. Benson explained that the violence reflects the internal struggles of the characters, making their pain feel even more human. “Often, it’s not for fun. It’s something you kind of want to look away from,” he noted.
Drawing inspiration from classic action stars, D’Onofrio compared the show’s grounded performances to the likes of Harrison Ford and Gary Cooper. He admired how those actors carried humility into their fight scenes, making them feel more realistic. “Anytime they were in a fight or holding a gun, they looked nervous. They carried their own humility into the action,” he said.
With Daredevil: Born Again, Disney+ is proving that the MCU can embrace darker, grittier storytelling without compromising the essence of the original series. Fans of the Netflix show will likely appreciate that Born Again stays true to its roots while continuing the complex rivalry between Daredevil and Kingpin.
For more on Daredevil: Born Again, check out the full interview with the cast on IGN.
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