Matt Murdock Returns in Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+
The Man Without Fear is backโand 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 Hellโs Kitchen, and his own pain simmering beneath the surface, Matt canโt resist the call to actionโeven if he knows it may destroy him.
The Evolution of Daredevilโs Fighting Style
To bring Daredevilโs 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 seriesโ explosive opening where Matt lashes out in blind rage. His refined fighting styleโa mix of boxing, martial arts, and now more dynamic motion-capture choreographyโreflects his mental descent.
โWe always design fights from an emotional perspective,โ Silvera told D23. โThis version of Matt is not holding back. Heโs crossing lines he used to avoid.โ
An Ensemble of Opponents: From Fisk to Muse
Matt isnโt alone in his darkness. Returning adversaries like Wilson Fisk (Vincent DโOnofrio), Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) each bring their own unique fighting styles and psychological challenges. Silvera compares Fiskโs brutality to a โsilverback gorilla,โ while Bullseye is described as โdismissive yet lethally precise.โ
Born Again also introduces Muse (Hunter Doohan), a villain who attacks with artistic flair. Silvera crafted Museโs style to resemble fencing strokes, enhancing the characterโs 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 actorโs strengths. From lunchtime training sessions to late-night rehearsals, the dedication of Charlie Cox, Vincent DโOnofrio, Jon Bernthal, and Wilson Bethel shines through in every frame.
โWe push them, but always within what they can do best,โ Silvera explains. โThat commitment makes the action feel real.โ
Stream Daredevil: Born Again Now
Daredevil: Born Again offers a deeper, darker dive into Matt Murdockโs 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.
