Daredevil Stars set to Return in Disney+ MCU Series, What it Means for the Future.

Earlier today, it was reported that actors Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio would return to Disney+ in the upcoming Echo series.

The canonicity of the Netflix Marvel series in the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was put into question after Marvel Studios began development on shows for Disney+. One of which included, Charlie Cox reprising the role of Matt Murdock for Spider-Man: No Way Home, acting as Peter’s lawyer.  Shortly after that film’s release, D’Onofrio returned as the criminal mastermind, the Kingpin in the finale of Hawkeye. Combined with the recent arrival of Daredevil on Disney+, this seems to confirm somewhat of a transition from Netflix’s participation in the MCU, leaving many to wonder where the actors would appear next, and how the story of these characters would continue.

Credit to Marvel Studios

Throughout the series Hawkeye, the character of Echo, played by Alaqua Cox, is shown to constantly be hunting down the titular character, believing him to be responsible for her father’s death.  While Hawkeye confirms this to be true, he reveals to her that he got the order to kill him by the Kingpin, despite his claims to have treated her and her father like family.  By the end of season, after an encounter with Kate Bishop, Echo confronts Kingpin in an alleyway.  After cutting away, a gunshot can be heard, leaving the fate of their encounter unknown.

Given the nature of their encounter, alongside Murdock’s appearance in the latest Spider-Man film, most believed it to be unlikely for Kingpin to have died.  This dynamic will likely serve as a major driving force in the upcoming Echo series, with it reported by THR, that the show will “include a plotline in which Daredevil, whose alter ego is blind attorney Matt Murdock, is searching out a former ally.”  This provides many opportunities to tie in the Netflix original series, as well as other shows such as Jessica Jones, with the MCU moreso, and perhaps answer questions viewers had after the finale of Daredevil.

While many were excited to see the returning characters, others were also curious as to how their presence in more recent MCU content connects with where they were last seen in Daredevil’s finale. D’Onofrio stated in an interview with Collider that he viewed the character’s presence as a continuation of his portrayal in Daredevil, albeit with more physical strength.  He continued on stating that he approached the role as though Kingpin had lost power after the Blip, and he is trying to get it back.

How Marvel Studios will approach the story of these returning characters is yet to be seen, but given the studio’s nature for carefully connecting the dots between projects, it is certain that the return of these characters will be carefully considered and serve the story as it needs to.