‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Star Wilson Bethel Criticizes Marvel Comics’ Bullseye as “a Thin Character”

Wilson Bethel, who plays Bullseye in Daredevil: Born Again, has shared a very direct opinion about the Marvel Comics version of the character. His comments came during an interview with The Direct, as the show wrapped up its second season run.

Bethel said he believes the version of Bullseye seen in the comics is not strong enough for long-form storytelling. He explained that while the character has been around for a long time and has many popular storylines, he thinks the comic version is too simple.

He said, “as cool as many of [comic Bullseye’s] story arcs are, is a thin character.” He added that he does not think that version of the character would work well on television over multiple seasons.

Bethel made it clear that his issue is not with the popularity of the comics, but with how the character is written. In his view, a character like Bullseye needs more depth and emotional range to stay interesting on screen for a long time.

He explained, “It’s a character who we would not necessarily want to watch for four seasons of a TV show.”

The actor also said that if he had to play a version of Bullseye that stayed completely faithful to the comics, he would struggle with it as an actor. He believes the character would feel too one-dimensional.

He said, “I would frankly get bored playing that as an actor.” Bethel added that he prefers a version of Bullseye who feels more human and easier to understand emotionally, even if the character is still clearly a villain.

In the interview, Bethel also said that his version of Bullseye is not meant to be an anti-hero. He explained that the character still does bad things and should be seen as a villain, even if viewers can sometimes understand his motivations.

According to Bethel, the goal is not to change Bullseye into a hero, but to give him more layers so the audience can see different sides of him. He believes that makes the character more interesting without removing his violent nature.

In Daredevil: Born Again, Bullseye is shown with more emotional conflict compared to the comics. While he still acts as a dangerous assassin, he also shows moments of regret and confusion, which are not usually part of his comic book portrayal.

Bethel said this version helps the character feel more real and grounded. He believes that is important for long-term storytelling in the Marvel universe, especially in a show that focuses heavily on character development.

He also spoke positively about working with Charlie Cox, who plays Daredevil, saying their scenes together help bring out the best in both characters. However, his main focus in the interview was clear: he wants Bullseye to remain a villain, but one with more emotional depth than the comic version.

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