Warning! This article contains some spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again season 1’s ending.
Daredevil: Born Againhas just set up how the Defenders could return to the MCU, six years after the final Netflix project began streaming. Admittedly, whether theNetflix Defenders timelinewas canon to the mainline MCU was unclear for a while. The early seasons of Netflix’s shows, be itDaredevilorJessica Jones,included references to MCU movies. However, as the shows went on and the MCU began adapting characters like Matt Murdock and Kingpin, the question of whether a project likeDaredevil: Born Againwas a Netflix continuationor not became prevalent.
Despite years of uncertainty, it seems as thoughDaredevil: Born Againseason 1’s endingfinally gives an answer as to whether the Netflix shows are canon to the MCU. Events from the first three seasons ofDaredevilwere made vitally important toDaredevil: Born Again, which exists firmly within the MCU. With that confirmation out of the way, six years after the last Defenders project was released on Netflix, it seems as though other characters associated with the team will finally be reintroduced toupcoming MCU moviesand shows, this time squarely within the franchise’s canon.
Kingpin Is Putting A Target On All Vigilantes
Image via Disney+
The vehicle for the Defenders' reintroduction to the MCU could beDaredevil: Born Againseason 2’s story. In the final moments ofDaredevil: Born Againseason 1,Wilson Fisk enacted his “Safer Streets” initiative as the mayor of New York City. This involved a curfew and the official outlawing of vigilante activity within the city. Combined with Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force, who are using their newfound power to indulge their darkest urges as crooked cops, New York has become an authoritarian state. To combat this, Daredevil states that he needs an army.
The last few scenes ofDaredevil: Born Againseason 1 outlined the first few members of Daredevil’s army. The returning Karen Page was one such character, as were otherDaredevil: Born Againcast members, including Cherry, Josie, and Detective Kim. Also present were other NYPD cops who likely disagreed with Fisk’s Task Force and were loyal to Commissioner Gallo. Although this seems a suitable team to begin combating Wilson Fisk’s new tyrannical protocol, Matt will undoubtedly need more allies that pack a bigger punch than those he currently has.
The Defenders Are Daredevil’s Closest Allies
Matt Has Superhero Friends
Of course, those allies could well be the Defenders. Now thatDaredevil: Born Againhas confirmed the Netflix shows as canon to the MCU, it only stands to reason that Matt would almost immediately think of the Defenders as potential allies against Fisk. In Netflix’sThe Defenders, Matt teamed up with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Danny Rand/Iron Fist, forming a strong connection with the other New York-based vigilantes over the course of the show. Not only did Matt build friendships with them, but he saw how capable each one was in a fight against corruption and darkness.
For this reason, they would be perfect recruits for Daredevil’s army inDaredevil: Born Againseason 2. The likes of Karen, Cherry, and Detective Kim undoubtedly have their uses against Kingpin, but in terms of a straight-up fight against the crime boss and his Task Force, Daredevil’s group is severely underpowered. Therefore, calling in his old friends to face off against Kingpin would make a lot of sense, making the Defenders some of the most likely recruits forDaredevil: Born Againseason 2’s army.
What The Defenders Actors Have Said About Returning For Daredevil: Born Again
The Defenders Are All On Board For An MCU Return
Now thatDaredevil: Born Againhas adequately set up a storyline that could see the Defenders return to the MCU, it is worth exploring what the actors of these characters have said about the possibility. Beginning with Jessica Jones actor Krysten Ritter, she outlined her willingness to come back toComicbook.com.Ritter was made aware of comments from Marvel Studios' Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, that he would like Jones to return, with the actor stating,“Let’s get it going. Let’s do it. I’ll be ready.”
In another interview withComicbook.com, Luke Cage star Mike Colter shared similar sentiments. Although maybe not as animatedly as Ritter, Colter stated he would be open to a return as Cage, insisting,“I would love to explore it, if they found some story, some way, somewhere.“Finally, Finn Jones, who played Iron Fist in theDefenderssaga, addressed his potential return as the character, linking to a redemption, given that Jones' show was one of the few on Netflix to receive outright criticism.
All three cast members of the remaining Defenders team are up for returning in a future MCU project…
As reported byComicbookmovie.com, Jones appeared at an anime convention in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2025. When asked about Iron Fist, Jones told the crowd that he is"very aware of the critiques of the character.“Jones went on to say,“Give me a f*cking chance, man. I’m here, and I’m ready, and I wanna prove people wrong.“Evidently, all three cast members of the remaining Defenders team are up for returning in a future MCU project. With this in mind andDaredevil: Born Againseeding their involvement, it would seem a missed opportunity not to have Matt recruit the powerful allies.
