Daredevil: Born Again is one of the most anticipated TV series of this year, continuing the gritty story from the Netflix original.
Matt Murdock will don the iconic suit once again as he takes on a new threat – though his former foe, Wilson Fisk, is still in the picture. If previous actions from the Kingpin are anything to go by, his new role cannot be good news.
This MCU series is fast approaching. If you’d like to get prepared, here’s your ultimate watch guide for the most important TV series and films to watch in this universe. We also have a list of the correct order to watch the MCU.
Which Marvel series and films should I watch to understand Daredevil: Born Again?
The two key characters in this show are Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin. Therefore, Marvel shows and movies that these two characters appear in will prove useful for storylines that are referenced:
- Daredevil seasons 1-2 (2015/2016)
- The Defenders (2017)
- Daredevil season 3 (2018)
- Punisher seasons 1-2 (2017/2019)
- Hawkeye (2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home – First 10 minutes, video linked below (2021)
- She-Hulk episodes 8 and 9 – 2022
- Echo – 2024
That’s quite a lot of content, so let’s break that down into a list of importance.
The original Daredevil series (seasons 1 through 3) is, by far, the most important thing on this list. It tells the origin story of the vigilante, and charts Fisk’s rise in Hell’s Kitchen and beyond.
It also introduces both Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, the two partners in Matt’s law firm – this has been confirmed by set photos. Born Again is not a reboot of this Netflix show, it’s a continuation. Essentially, season four.
Marvel 2024 / Giovanni Rufino
Daredevil is also widely considered one of the best Marvel properties ever, so you won’t regret taking the time to watch it.
The rest on this list aren’t as imperative for new viewers. However, they do include appearances from cast members and include plots that may be referenced in the series, though how important they are won’t be clear until it airs.
The Defenders ties together Matt’s story between seasons 2 and 3 of Daredevil, but you can get by reading a plot summary of this if you’re short on time. Daredevil season 3 is placed after this in the list for that reason – the last season introduces Dex/Bullseye, who will also feature in Born Again.
Punisher makes the list because Frank Castle has been confirmed to appear in the series. However, we have no idea how relevant his arc will be in the new show. His origin story is also detailed in Daredevil season 2, so you shouldn’t miss out too much if you don’t watch this.
Wilson Fisk is the villain of Hawkeye, now operating underground. He only physically appears in episodes 5 and 6, and he’s quite different from what you’ll see in the Netflix series. However, if you want to get an idea of his scrappy beginnings, and you plan on watching Echo, this is worth your time.
Most of Spider-Man: No Way Home isn’t essential viewing for this film, but the first 10 minutes feature an appearance from Matt Murdock, who is hired as Peter’s lawyer. Sony has the scene published on YouTube for free, so you can see this below (Matt’s entrance is timestamped):
It’s worth noting that due to the end of this film, Matt shouldn’t remember who Peter is. That said, it’s included in this list because Wilson Fisk was originally a Spider-Man villain in the comics. Therefore, there is speculation that Daredevil: Born Again will lay the groundwork for Spider-Man 4, which is in development.
Matt also appears in episode 8 (and some of 9) of She-Hulk, in his Daredevil suit. Showrunner Dario Scardapane has already confirmed that these events won’t be referenced in Born Again, but you can still give it a watch if you want to be all caught up.
Echo is probably more required viewing than some of the above. Fisk features in this show heavily, as Maya’s ‘uncle’. He manipulates her and isolates her, like what he did with Dex in season 3 of Daredevil. We don’t know how much, or if at all, Maya will be discussed in Born Again – but the show is a decent exploration of who Fisk is.
If you don’t have the time to commit to all of Echo, then watch the final post-credits scene – this directly sets up the trajectory that Fisk will take in Born Again.
As a bonus, you could also watch Ms. Marvel, as Kamala Khan’s father Yusuf is set to appear in the show. However, it’s doubtful that your viewing experience of the Daredevil revival will be impacted if you skip this one.
Marvel Studios
How to watch all the shows and films ahead of Daredevil: Born Again
Everything in the list above is available to stream over on Disney+. You can sign up for an account on the Disney+ website, with prices starting from £4.99/$9.99 per month. You can find the differences between the various plans here.
Daredevil: Born Again drops on Disney+ on 4 March 2025.
