Why The Defenders Were Left Out of Daredevil’s Epic Season 1 Finale

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Warning: SPOILERS for the Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 finale are ahead!

In 2017, following the release of shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist on Netflix, these characters united in the miniseries The Defenders. Apart from a brief team-up between Luke and Danny Rand in an episode of Luke Cage Season 2, this was their only joint appearance. However, could we see them together again? That possibility seemed to be hinted at as the finale of Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 wrapped up recently on the 2025 TV schedule. But showrunner Dario Scardapane clarified why the Defenders were not part of the story.

Towards the closing moments of “Straight to Hell,” Mayor Wilson Fisk announced martial law and banned vigilantism over New York City’s airwaves. Meanwhile, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), donned in his Man Without Fear costume, was spotted at Josie’s Bar with Karen Page, Cherry, Detective Angie Kim, and some honest cops. They appear to be the initial forces planning to rescue New York City; however, we wonder if the Defenders will join this crusade. Scardapane hinted at these characters being on his mind as he pens “Born Again” Season 2 for EW when asked about their involvement in the storyline.

In the part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe often referred to as Hell’s Kitchen, the legendary characters are always a constant presence in your thoughts. When crafting a narrative, it’s crucial to incorporate elements from Matt’s personal life and relationships, as well as past figures, because they add depth to the story, especially when Fisk has seized control of the city. A resistance and rebellion are stirring, so various characters such as vigilantes, superheroes will likely be part of this struggle since it affects their city. However, the goal is to develop a plot that feels authentic and seamless. The characters who enter the story and the reasons behind their presence must be well-justified and not just for convenience.

In this context, it’s clear that Dario Scardapane’s reasoning behind the character choices made sense. Given that we’re delving into ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, it was crucial to highlight characters who will support Matt Murdock in the upcoming conflict. This is significant because not all viewers of ‘Born Again’ may have watched the initial Daredevil series, and even those who did might not have followed The Defenders closely. Jon Bernthal’s Punisher was indeed included, but overloading “Straight to Hell” with numerous superheroes could have been overwhelming.

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In essence, this doesn’t guarantee that we won’t catch glimpses of the Defenders’ storyline in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again or possibly future seasons if the series persists. Given the team’s focus on these superheroes, it’s plausible that there might already be plans in motion if we look closely at the following statement.

To put it simply, those characters you mentioned are indeed present within our collective minds as we work on the project. However, figuring out how they appear and interact is a challenging aspect of writing and something we’re keeping under wraps for now. In other words, I can’t reveal too much, but rest assured, we’re definitely considering them!

Recently, it seems that Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, and Finn Jones have all hinted at their interest in reprising their roles as Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist respectively. Given this, if the Defenders were definitively not going to appear in Daredevil: Born Again, showrunner Dario Scardapane would likely have made that clear. However, it’s also possible that he’s been asked to keep quiet by Marvel Studios so as not to spoil what fans can expect from Season 2 of Born Again.

I’m eagerly anticipating updates from TopMob about the potential return of the Defenders in either “Daredevil: Born Again” or another exciting MCU project. As of now, it seems that “Born Again” Season 2 might grace our screens as part of Marvel’s TV lineup in March 2026, but I’ll definitely keep my fingers crossed and share any developments with you!

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2025-04-19 04:37