Highlights
- Charlie Cox had given up hope of returning as Daredevil, unlike Vincent D'Onofrio who remained hopeful for a reboot.
- The cancellation of Daredevil on Netflix left the actors and fans disappointed, as there were still many stories left to tell.
- The decision to cancel the show was a business move by Disney, but the support from fans and potential for a new home on Disney Plus helped bring about a reboot.
Daredevil star Charlie Cox was ready to move on from his titular superhero role, unlike one of his co-stars, Vincent D'Onofrio, who always believed they would be brought back following their abrupt cancelation on Netflix.
Cox and D'Onofrio starred as Daredevil and Kingpin in the superhero series that debuted on Netflix in 2015 and ran for three seasons until 2018. However, the show was canceled after Marvel Television was folded into Marvel Studios. It took years before the actors were approached to do a reboot, and before that, Cox had already given up hope that he would appear on the small screen again as the vigilante superhero.
At Wales Comic Con (via Geektown), Cox got candid about how he felt following the cancelation of Daredevil on Netflix and two years of hiatus before they were approached to do Daredevil: Born Again. The 40-year-old actor said he was convinced the "ship had sailed" and was already over. He no longer hoped his Daredevil era would continue, unlike Kingpin actor D'Onofrio, who was seemingly hopeful Disney Plus would pick up the show.
According to Cox, he occasionally chatted with his Marvel co-star on the phone. While he had already accepted that the show was over, D'Onofrio was enthusiastic about their potential return. Cox thought the latter was "delusional" for still holding onto the franchise years after their show was canceled. However, D'Onofrio was right because Marvel Studios eventually contacted them to do a new Daredevil series for Disney Plus.
So, during that time, I didn’t know that. I just thought it was over. And Vincent [D'Onofrio], who plays Wilson Fisk, him and I would chat occasionally on the phone. And he would kind of say, 'I’m sure they’re gonna bring us back.' I’d be on the phone being, like, 'Mate, the guy’s delusional! He’s got to let it go.'
Daredevil was a hit, and that was why it spawned several seasons. When Netflix decided to cancel it, fans and the actors were disappointed because everyone was expecting more seasons, as there were still too many things left unaddressed. So, Cox's reaction was understandable, especially since they were left in the dark for years on whether they would still reprise their roles. Also, Cox didn't hide his sadness after learning that the show was axed, even telling Entertainment Weekly that "I'm very saddened" by the show's abrupt ending. Sometimes, the easiest thing to do to feel better is to accept things at face value and move forward. Cox did just that because he was brokenhearted with the fate of his titular superhero character.
A lot of us really expected to keep going, and I certainly did. The truth is, I felt like we had a lot of stories to tell, and although I understand [the cancellation], I’m very saddened by that.
Cox and his co-stars later learned that the decision to cancel the show was down to business. After Disney reclaimed the rights to Marvel projects licensed to Netflix, the company planned to release a rival streaming service, Disney Plus. All Marvel series — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Punisher — that formed Netflix's Defenders saga were canceled and removed from Netflix in 2022. However, they were moved to Disney Plus. D'Onofrio probably saw that since it was down to business and the show was doing well, its new home could pick up the program to continue the story, which Cox likely missed. All the cast members knew they were not given the proper ending, and there were still plenty of things to explore, which was enough to do a reboot. The support from fans also helped. They campaigned for the show, and there was a noticeable rise in the #SaveDaredevil groups, suggesting they wanted more from the series.
Daredevil is available on Disney Plus.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes, including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
- First Film
- Iron Man
- Latest Film
- Marvels
- Cast
- Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Jeremy Renner , Chadwick Boseman , Zoe Saldana , Chris Pratt , Tom Hiddleston , Iman Vellani
- TV Show(s)
- WandaVision , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Loki , Ms. Marvel , She-Hulk
- Character(s)
- Iron Man , Captain America , Thor , Hulk , Black Widow , Hawkeye
Source: Geektown, Entertainment Weekly