Netflix’sDaredevilset the tone for that corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making comparisons between it and the sequel seriesDaredevil: Born Again inevitable. Even so,Daredevilshowrunner Steven DeKnight rushed to the defense of the older series when a fan called out its stuntwork. Both shows star Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, and they also feature elaborate, violent fight scenes. This trend started withthe now-infamous one-shot sequence in which Matt takes out a hallway of goons who kidnapped a child. It was equally brutal and memorable.
Since then, each subsequentDaredevilseason has put a new spin on the concept, as didDaredevil: Born Again.However, the revival, having a higher budget and more technical resources, incorporated more intricate stunts augmented by CGI.
Some audience members have expressed their excitement over these changes, making Daredevil’s skillset more similar to his in the comics. One such fan, @theogdaredevil,tweeted: “crazy how Daredevil started becoming more agile and acrobatic/moving more like comic daredevil ever since he got into the [MCU]. ([please don’t] twist my words. [I] know [he’s] canon in the [MCU], but [you] know exactly what [I] mean when [I] say [MCU].)” They also included a compilation of fight scenes to illustrate their point.
This caught DeKnight’s attention, whoexplainedthe difference was “purely a financial issue.” He then added: “On the Netflix show, we didn’t have the money to do this. If we had, we would have.”
What Steven DeKnight’s Daredevil Comments Mean
In order to understand the disparities in how Matt’s abilities are depicted, it is important to note the shows' respective budgets. PerComic Book Resources,Daredevilhad a single-season budget of $56 million, andDaredevil: Born Againhas a budget of around $200 million. To break that down further,Daredevil’s13 episodes would cost $4.3 million each, whileDaredevil: Born Again’s9 would cost roughly $22.2 million.
“90% Of Our Sequences Are Practical:” Charlie Cox Praises Daredevil: Born Again’s Combination Of Visual Effects And Stunt Work To Make Daredevil More Comic-Accurate
Charlie Cox confirms the extent of Daredevil: Born Again’s CGI in the MCU series' action sequences and explains how its fight choreography works.
With that disparity in mind, it makes sense thatDaredevil: Born Againwould have more capital to produce its fight scenes. As a result, there are bound to be some differences between the series. Chiefly,Daredevilhas more visceral stunts, while those ofDaredevil: Born Againare smoother.Stylistically, the latter attempts to recreate what its predecessor did to varying results.
Our Take On Steven DeKnight’s Daredevil Comments
Ultimately, whatever style a viewer prefers is up to personal preference. However, DeKnight is likely correct that the lower budget ofDaredevilimpeded its ability to depict more comic-accurate fights, as they were required to work within what they could achieve with practical effects. Nonetheless, the series managed; as the hallway scene exemplifies, sometimes limitations can lead to increased creativity.
