Matt Murdock Returns in Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+
The Man Without Fear is back—and more conflicted than ever. In Daredevil: Born Again, now streaming on Disney+, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) finds himself in the throes of grief and rage after the murder of his best friend and law partner, Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson). One year later, Matt has stepped away from vigilantism, focusing instead on his legal career and a new relationship with therapist Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva). But with crime surging through Hell’s Kitchen, and his own pain simmering beneath the surface, Matt can’t resist the call to action—even if he knows it may destroy him.
The Evolution of Daredevil’s Fighting Style
To bring Daredevil’s raw emotion to life, Marvel brought back Philip J. Silvera, stunt and fight coordinator from Seasons 1 and 2. Silvera explains that every fight sequence in Born Again is driven by emotion, especially in the series’ explosive opening where Matt lashes out in blind rage. His refined fighting style—a mix of boxing, martial arts, and now more dynamic motion-capture choreography—reflects his mental descent.
“We always design fights from an emotional perspective,” Silvera told D23. “This version of Matt is not holding back. He’s crossing lines he used to avoid.”
An Ensemble of Opponents: From Fisk to Muse
Matt isn’t alone in his darkness. Returning adversaries like Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) each bring their own unique fighting styles and psychological challenges. Silvera compares Fisk’s brutality to a “silverback gorilla,” while Bullseye is described as “dismissive yet lethally precise.”
Born Again also introduces Muse (Hunter Doohan), a villain who attacks with artistic flair. Silvera crafted Muse’s style to resemble fencing strokes, enhancing the character’s psychological depth through movement.
Training the Cast for Marvel Mayhem
As much as possible, the cast performed their own stunts. Silvera and second unit director Dave Macomber tailored choreography to fit each actor’s strengths. From lunchtime training sessions to late-night rehearsals, the dedication of Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Bernthal, and Wilson Bethel shines through in every frame.
“We push them, but always within what they can do best,” Silvera explains. “That commitment makes the action feel real.”
Stream Daredevil: Born Again Now
Daredevil: Born Again offers a deeper, darker dive into Matt Murdock’s psyche, blending emotional storytelling with intense Marvel action.
Catch new episodes every Tuesday at 6 p.m., exclusively on Disney+.
For a deeper look into the series and insights from Philip J. Silvera, visit the original D23 article.
