For those who spent years rallying behind Netflix’s ‘Daredevil‘, it felt like the Marvel gods had finally listened when ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ was released. However, as Charlie Cox now reveals, that return was not as simple as fans may have hoped.
In a candid conversation during Variety’s Actors on Actors series with fellow Marvel actor Joe Locke (Agatha All Along), Cox peeled back the curtain on what really happened behind the scenes.
Charlie Cox On Daredevil’s Long Road Back To The MCU
The ‘Daredevil’ actor explained how a strange mix of legal technicalities and studio politics kept one of Marvel’s most beloved characters in the shadows. “I was absolutely shocked,” Cox admitted. “It was the middle of COVID. I was in the garden, and my phone rang. I hadn’t heard from anyone from Marvel for two years at least. The last phone call I’d had was, ‘We’re sorry, but the show’s been canceled.’”
Related: ‘Daredevil’ Showrunner Reveals Why The Netflix Series Had Limited MCU Ties
That call, which once felt like a death knell for his portrayal of Daredevil, was suddenly reversed when Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called out of the blue. And Feige wasn’t even involved with the original Netflix show, as that fell under Marvel Television which was a separate entity.
Cox continued, “I didn’t know there was an embargo, a legal clause that meant they couldn’t contact me for two years after the cancellation. So when Kevin said, ‘Do you want to come back and do some more Daredevil stuff?’ I was absolutely blown away. I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t hear anything for three months,” he said with a laugh. “I started to question whether I’d dreamed it.”
Back when the original ‘Daredevil’ show aired on Netflix, it existed in a strange gray area. While technically a Marvel property, it wasn’t overseen by Feige or integrated into the larger MCU events. “We always used to joke about feeling like we’re the stepkids,” Cox said, reflecting on those earlier days. “It never quite felt like we were in the MCU.” Today, that has changed dramatically. “Now it feels like we’re part of the fam,” he shared.
Krysten Ritter Officially Returns As Jessica Jones For ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2
And now, the Marvel-Netflix revival isn’t just about ‘Daredevil’. During Disney’s 2025 upfront presentation in New York, Krysten Ritter (beloved for her portrayal of Jessica Jones) took the stage alongside Charlie Cox to announce her official return to the MCU. “It’s so great to be back,” Ritter said, smiling.
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“Returning to Jessica after three seasons and The Defenders and now joining the MCU. I’m so excited to bring back this iconic character. And without giving too much away, there is much more in store for Jessica Jones.” Fans of the Netflix original will recall Jones as a hard-drinking, no-nonsense private investigator with raw strength and emotional depth.
Moreover, ‘Jessica Jones’ returning for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 isn’t just a welcome reunion, it’s a major statement. It signifies Marvel’s intention to bring back characters that may have felt like one-offs and give them a permanent home. The return also opens the door for potential comebacks from other fan-favorite Defenders like Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and even Frank Castle’s Punisher.
