Vincent D’Onofrio Says Kingpin, Daredevil and Bullseye Will Return to Marvel, Even as ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Heads Toward Its End
Few corners of the Marvel universe have had as complicated a journey as Hell’s Kitchen. A Netflix series built a loyal following, was canceled after 3 seasons and then returned years later as a revival on Disney+. Now that revival has its own end date, and fans are asking what happens next.
The news that ‘Daredevil: Born Again‘ will conclude with its third season landed as a shock, especially after a second season that many viewers considered a creative high point. Marvel has said little beyond confirming the plan. But one of the series’ stars has offered a more hopeful perspective.
Vincent D’Onofrio says he, Charlie Cox and Wilson Bethel will reappear in future Marvel projects, though he didn’t offer any details about how or when. He insisted the story isn’t over and said it would only truly end if the studio recast their roles, which isn’t happening. The comments came during a public appearance where he was seated beside Cox and Bethel, which explains why he named those 2 actors specifically.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ will end with its upcoming third season, which is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2027. Variety reports that the season has already wrapped and is in post-production. The showrunner is also reportedly leaving.
Marvel Television head Brad Winderbaum has said the plan was always to culminate at 3 seasons, since the original Netflix series ran for 3 seasons and ‘Born Again’ was meant to match it. Some observers have also noted that the show, though popular with fans and critics, was never a major ratings hit and that the studio is pulling back on its streaming slate. The cancellation of ‘Wonder Man’ despite a renewal and Emmy nominations points in the same direction.
The story is heading into a dramatic shift. At the end of season 2, Matt Murdock publicly revealed his identity as Daredevil to help impeach and arrest Wilson Fisk, who lost his position as mayor of New York City. Daredevil is now in jail after his identity was exposed, which sets up a very different final season.
Along the way, the show has brought back familiar faces such as Karen Page, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. It also introduced new characters and expanded the street-level corner of the MCU. That makes the cast’s hopes for a future beyond the series even more interesting.
D’Onofrio also shared a dream matchup for Fisk. He said he wants to see Kingpin take down Spider-Man in a fight, a nod to a rivalry fans have long imagined. That idea has gained traction since Peter Parker returned to his street-level roots in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day.’
Reports have suggested that Kingpin could be a major villain in that Spider-Man trilogy and that Marvel is considering a street-level crossover film involving Spider-Man, the Punisher, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daredevil. Those are unconfirmed, but they show how much interest there is. Jon Bernthal’s Punisher has already appeared in ‘Brand New Day’ and starred in his own special, ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill.’
Both actors have been part of the Marvel universe since before the revival. Cox returned as Daredevil in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ while D’Onofrio’s Kingpin was revealed as the hidden villain of ‘Hawkeye’ and later featured in ‘Echo.’ Their characters first appeared in Netflix’s ‘Daredevil,’ which ran from 2015 to 2018.
The revival drew a big audience, with the first season pulling in 7.5 million viewers worldwide in its first 5 days. That popularity helps explain why fans have pushed so hard for the characters to continue. A future in the MCU would be a way to keep the legacy alive.
The first trailer for ‘DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN’ has been released. Premiering March 4 on Disney+ https://t.co/2kfHR2nMag
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 15, 2025
It’s important to keep expectations in check. D’Onofrio made clear that nothing specific is in the works right now, and he said he didn’t know which projects the actors would return for. Marvel hasn’t announced any plans for the characters beyond season 3.
Still, the comments suggest the door is open. For fans who have followed the series since its Netflix days, that’s welcome news after months of uncertainty.
What would you most like to see after 'Daredevil: Born Again' ends?
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