'Daredevil: Born Again's Latest Update Could Finally Redeem This Divisive MCU Hero

2 weeks ago 15

Published Jun 1, 2026, 9:47 PM EDT

Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. Using his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's been able to tackle a wide variety of articles.

The second season of Daredevil: Born Again surprised fans when it brought Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) into the back half of its run. Perhaps the biggest surprise wasn't the fact that Jessica came back to help Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), but that she and her fellow Defender, Luke Cage (Mike Colter), had a daughter together. Season 3 is set to complete the Defenders reunion, as set photos reveal that Danny Rand (Finn Jones), aka the Immortal Iron Fist, will play a major role in the story. If Daredevil: Born Again plays its cards right, it can actually make Iron Fist a compelling character.

Anyone who's followed the "Defenders Saga", aka the Marvel-based shows that originally premiered on Netflix, knows that Iron Fist is considered to be the least entertaining out of the four. A large part of this is due to showrunner Scott Buck downplaying the mystical elements inherent in Danny Rand's origin, not to mention that the fight scenes were extremely lackluster — and in a superhero show where the main character is meant to be a master artist, that's not a good sign. Not only does Daredevil: Born Again have the tools to improve Danny Rand's character, but it also sets the stage for a Daredevil storyline that involves Iron Fist in a major capacity.

Iron Fist Could Step Into A Major Role in 'Daredevil: Born Again'

Daredevil: Born Again threw its audience for a loop in Season 2, as Matt Murdock revealed his secret identity in the finale to finally dismantle Wilson Fisk's (Vincent D'Onofrio) regime. The gamble works, but Matt is arrested because Fisk outlawed vigilante activity during his tenure as New York's mayor. This sets up Season 3 to adapt the "Devil in Cell Block D" storyline by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark, where Matt struggled to survive in prison while a mysterious figure roamed the streets as Daredevil. Said figure was Danny Rand, who eventually turned over the mantle when Matt got out of prison.

The cast and crew of Daredevil: Born Again have expressed their love for "The Devil in Cell Block D", with showrunner Dario Scardapane revealing that it's one of his favorite Daredevil comics. Scardapane also told Entertainment Weekly that Born Again had been building to this moment since its very first episode:

"[It’s] what we all really wanted to build, and it’s there in the whole season. We realized very, very quickly that it floats us right into one of my favorite runs of all time...I’d always said to everybody, 'Watch the last 5 minutes of episode 8, and you’ll know what we’re doing in season 3.' And I stand by that."

By adapting "The Devil in Cell Block D", Scardapane has the opportunity to do some rich character work with Danny Rand. Most of Iron Fist saw Danny struggling with the mantle of being the Iron Fist, and acclimating to life after he returned from the mystical city of K'un-L'un. What if he finds a new purpose in donning Daredevil's suit to protect Hell's Kitchen? This development could also lead to some of Daredevil: Born Again's best fight scenes, especially considering that Danny is one of the best martial artists in the Marvel Universe. Scardapane isn't just reuniting the Defenders but pushing them into new territory.

'Daredevil: Born Again' Is Reuniting A Fan-Favorite Marvel Duo

Not only will Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 see the return of Iron Fist, but the set photos also reveal that he'll be working with Luke Cage. This is a fitting pairing, as the duo are best known as the "Heroes for Hire" in the comics and formed a long-lasting friendship in the process. It also builds on Mike Colter and Finn Jones' dynamic from The Defenders, which built on said friendship. Further cementing this is the fact that Luke and Jessica named their daughter "Danielle" after Danny, hinting that they've formed a stronger relationship with him over the years. If Daredevil: Born Again goes long enough, it could even address what happened to Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick) after Danny gave her the Iron Fist powers.

In bringing back Iron Fist, Daredevil: Born Again has set the stage to make him into an interesting character. It could also add more depth to the Defenders, as they'll have to protect New York in Matt Murdock's absence.

Seasons 1 & 2 of Daredevil: Born Again are available to stream on Disney+.