The Netflix era of Marvel television has since concluded, but it did not mark the end of Matt Murdock’s story. For three years, fans wondered whether the character would ever return before he made hisMCUdebut appearance inSpider-Man: No Way Home. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and even Iron Fist had their fans, but Daredevil established a much stronger fanbase. The high level of interest led to Marvel Studiosfeaturing Daredevil inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawbefore spinning off into a newseries titledDaredevil: Born Again. The superhero will also be featured inEchoandSpider-Man: Freshman Year. Marvel Studios clearly has big plans for Daredevil.
Update August 07, 2025: This article has been updated following recent developments behind the scenes at Marvel Studios regarding the production ofDaredevil: Born Again.
Unlike most superheroes in the MCU, Daredevil kept his alter ego a secret. Hewas a street-level herodefending Hell’s Kitchen rather than trying to save the world, the galaxy, or the Multiverse. Following three seasons ofDaredeviland the miniseriesThe Defenders, Matt Murdock has won over the hearts of millions of fans. In a franchise filled with popular heroes ranging from The Avengers, The Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and more, Daredevil has managed to stay a fan favorite. Without further ado, here is why Daredevil has become so beloved among fans and audiences.
Marvel Studios created one of the most impressive film series of all time with The Infinity Saga. Despite reaching a massive audience, some people still wanted a different style in their superhero stories.Daredevilgave them just that, focusing on a character in a world where the Avengers were not present (with the exception of a few mentions). The series was muchdarker in tonethan any of Marvel Studios' films, and the unique tone allowed for some very interesting stories.
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It was not the grit, however, that madeDaredevila great television series. What madeDaredevilso enjoyable to watch was the excellent direction, writing, action set pieces, and the characters. The hallway fight scenes were always a series highlight and superior to many of the fights featured in the films.Daredevilwas the series that introduced fan favorites such as Elektra, the Punisher, and the Kingpin to the MCU. Moreover, supporting characters, such as Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, and Ray Nadeem, were also able to shine. To this day, some fans considerDaredevilto be one of the best things that Marvel has ever produced.
Matt Is Someone Who Conquers Their Fears
Thor, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, and the Scarlet Witch have all had incredible superpowers. Daredevil, on the other hand, was a man who had neither enhanced strength and speed nor magic and powers derived from an Infinity Stone. His four senses were enhanced when he was blinded at a young age, but otherwise, he was just a human being. Determined to fight the corruption in his city, Matt Murdock trained extensively in martial arts to become the ultimate vigilante. Murdock experienced many tragic events in his life, including the death of his father, but he refused to stand by as it happened to someone else.
Dubbed the “Man Without Fear” in the Marvel Comics, Murdock lived up to the “Daredevil” name. He never gave up and often involved himself in very dangerous situations. Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, grew his power and influence in New York while leaving a path of destruction in his wake. Daredevil narrowly avoided death as he fought malevolent forces that always outnumbered him. His level of determination and persistence were unparalleled. No matter how difficult the situation was, Daredevil did not allow his fears to prevent him from taking action.
Matt Has a Strong Moral Code While Still Being Flawed
Daredevil has been recognized as one of the “edgier” superheroes in the MCU, but he was still a very caring person who believed that everyone deserved a shot at redemption. As a Catholic, Matt Murdock believed that other people’s lives were not for him to take. This, however, was still something that Murdock struggled with as he considered killing Wilson Fisk. Murdock was an imperfect person with a genuine desire to be a force for good.
A dual life as a vigilante was portrayed inDaredevilas being detrimental to Murdock’s personal relationships. The high level of stress from fighting crime created a rift between Matt and his best friends, Foggy and Karen. Additionally,Murdock prioritized his vigilante activitiesover his duties as a lawyer, which in turn caused major problems at his law firm. He pushed people away, wrongly believing that he did not need anyone and could do everything by himself. The contrasting qualities of Murdock being humble yet simultaneously having a large ego made him so captivating as a character.
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ThroughoutDaredevilandThe Defenders, Matt was portrayed as being kind, loving, and compassionate. However, the high moral standards he aspired to frequently made him feel guilty whenever he failed to meet them. He could be stubborn and reckless, and he had a sense of responsibility similar to Spider-Man, which was often overbearing. Daredevil never sought glory or fame and only cared about bringing people to justice. The selflessness and nobility of Daredevil, along with his imperfections, have resonated strongly with fans. Not only has Daredevil been a hero that people can aspire to, but he has also been a human being that they can relate to.
He’s The Most Comic Accurate Version of the Character
When you think about Daredevil, you immediately refer to this version as the default. No disrespect to Ben Affleck’s 2003Daredevil, but that film was barely held together by a semblance of a plot while filled with fan service moments extracted from the comic books. It was all flair and no substance despite having a solid cast with Colin Farrell, Jennifer Garner, and the imposing Michael Clark Duncan.
Over the years, we have gotten multiple versions of Daredevil in the comics. Some have been dark, but others have been lighthearted. The character started out as more of a swashbuckler before becoming a more hardened vigilante. The MCU Daredevil series delved deep into the version of the character in the comics that writers like Frank Miller, Joe Quesada, and Ed Brubaker popularized. Yet glimpses that audiences have seen of Daredevil in the MCU, likeShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, hint at the classic version of the character created by Stan Lee in the 1960s.
We still need to see what a proper Daredevil set in the MCU will bring, as we have only gotten glimpses of the character, and the recent announcementof the show being overhauledonly signals further delays. One thing remains certain: given the character’s new playground in the family-friendly MCU, we’re likely getting a more lighthearted version of the character, even if the show is named after one of the darkest moments of Daredevil’s history. The series is set to take the route ofAvengers: Age of Ultron, which took the name of a comic storyline as a tagline and not as a reference for the story.
Charlie Cox’s Performance
English actor Charlie Cox proved to be the perfect actor in bringing Daredevil and Matt Murdock to life. He has always spoken highly of his experience playing the character. As shared byScreen Rant, Cox worked with blind consultant Joe Strechay to improve his performance as a blind lawyer. The experience helped Cox become more conscious of what his eyes were doing.
It was important that Cox learned so that he did not act how a blind person wouldn’t act. Cox’s performance led to him being honored in New York City at the American Foundation for the Blind’s 19th Annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards (viaVariety). A great story and excellent scripts allowed Cox to showcase his strengths as an actor. Resultingly, Matt Murdock became one of the best-written and most likable characters in the MCU to date. While Daredevil is popular, it is Cox’s version of the character that has really stuck with audiences and why people cheered when she showed up in bothSpider-Man: No Way HomeandShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Great casting has been the key to the MCU. While many of these characters are famous before, it is people like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and the late Chadwick Boseman who brought these characters to life for millions of audiences. Charlie Cox is Matt Murdock and Daredevil, and why the character has continued to endure.
