As Deadpool co-creator claims Daredevil: Born Again was originally a "comedy", one of its stars says the creative overhaul was because they knew "what the fans wanted"

Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock in his Daredevil costume in Daredevil Born Again
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Disney Plus’ upcoming show Daredevil: Born Again is set to be an all-out action series, but Marvel Comics writer Rob Liefeld has claimed that the show was originally set to be a comedy before a Marvel stuntman took over. However, star Vincent D'Onofrio has since set the record straight, saying the reshoots were all down to showrunner Dario Scardapane.

"Prior to the Marvel Brass finally listening to the talent, the show was a comedy!" said Liefeld on Twitter. "They brought in action impression Phil Silvera who literally reshot most every episode. The action and stunts are next level!" Liefeld is best known for co-creating the character Deadpool for Marvel comics. Notably, Liefeld isn't involved in Daredevil: Born Again and recently cut ties with Marvel Studios after feeling "diminished" at the Deadpool and Wolverine premiere by not being invited to the afterparty (via THR).

Liefeld’s tweet is in response to Daredevil's D'Onofrio (Wilson Fisk) telling GQ Magazine "We made it known that we were not happy, and the big bosses, especially Kevin [Feige], listened to us." This is in reference to additional scenes and episodes being added to the spin-off by showrunner Dario Scardapane.

However, following Liefeld's Tweet, D'Onofrio took to Twitter to set the record straight writing: "Phil was hired again for the stunts that's true. Yet the new episodes even the action scenes were written by Dario our showrunner. "The Kingpin star continued, adding, "It was a wonderful restart and we all worked really hard for the fans. Charlie, myself, and Dario our producers and studio heads felt like we knew what the fans wanted. That was our goal."

As D'Onofrio didn't address the "comedy" element of Liefeld's claim, that may be true, which is wild to think after Born Again received the highest age rating possible. The show has officially been rated 'TV-MA' in the US and '18+' in the UK and the rest of Europe. This is quite rare for Marvel with only The Punisher season 1 and 2, Iron Fist season 1, and Daredevil season 2 also holding the rating.

Welcoming back Charlie Cox as blind lawyer Matt Murdock by day and vigilante Daredevil by night, the new show sees the hero come face to face with Fisk AKA Kingpin once again on the mean streets of Hell’s Kitchen. The cast also includes Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Jon Bernthal as Punisher, and more.

Daredevil: Born Again will be released on Disney Plus on March 4, 2025 – see our Daredevil: Born Again release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, or keep up with upcoming Marvel movies and shows.

Editorial Associate, 12DOVE

I am an Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.  

Read more
Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Daredevil Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner and star Charlie Cox address why they rehauled the Marvel show: "It wasn't in line with what Daredevil had been established to be"
Daredevil: Born Again
Charlie Cox praises Marvel for listening to him and completely changing Daredevil: Born Again: "I don't know many companies that would do that"
Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) in Daredevil Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again will fix the showrunner's big issue with the Netflix series: "At its worst, it was two characters in a room talking about what a hero is"
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again will bring to life iconic Marvel comic book panels, including a key Kingpin moment from Frank Miller that star Vincent D'Onofrio has framed in his office
Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel producer says test audiences loved scrapped Daredevil: Born Again episodes, but "a lot" of their material made it into the final show anyway
Jon Bernthal in The Punisher
Daredevil: Born Again's Charlie Cox reveals that The Punisher star Jon Bernthal would regularly rewrite his lines during filming
Latest in Marvel TV Shows
Tony Dalton as Jack Duquesne
Daredevil: Born Again fans are loving the MCU cameos in this week's episodes – especially the Hawkeye reunion
Daredevil: Born Again episode 6
Daredevil: Born Again's long-awaited moment has been called "pure cinema" featuring one of the "best lines in comic book movie history"
Daredevil looking mean and moody.
Daredevil: Born Again episode 5 just nodded to Thanos and the Avengers movies in the most obscure way
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again has pulled another scene straight from the comics – and it's one of the darkest moments yet
Muse
Daredevil: Born Again midseason trailer teases Matt Murdock’s violent fight with Muse, including a gory scene straight from the comics
Iman Vellani in The Marvels
Daredevil: Born Again episode 5 gives an important Ms. Marvel update – and it might have confirmed a major team-up in the next Avengers movie
Latest in News
Marvel Cosmic Invasion promo art showing various heroes teaming up against Annihilus
The spirit of those incredible '90s arcade comic book brawlers lives on in Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a new retro beat-em-up game from the creators of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows shoots past 3 million players and 40 million hours played with the "second-highest day 1 sales revenue in Assassin's Creed franchise history"
Jason Statham in A Working Man
Jason Statham and The Beekeeper director's new movie co-written by Sylvester Stallone debuts to mixed reviews with a divisive Rotten Tomatoes score
Heath Ledger as Joker in The Dark Knight
17 years after The Dark Knight was released, Michael Caine recalls being "floored" and "terrified" by Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker
A cartoon woman catches a tomato while cooking in Rhythm Heaven Groove
Rhythm Heaven Groove has one of Nintendo's longest-suffering fandoms absolutely feasting: "AFTER 10 YEARS WE FINALLY WON"
Lies of P trailer
Elden Ring Nightreign isn't pushing Lies of P to go multiplayer, but the director is "open" to co-op games in the future