Charlie Cox is synonymous with Daredevil, embodying the gritty, street-level hero with a depth that made the Netflix series a fan favorite. However, what if he had taken a different path?
In a surprising revelation, Cox shared that he was initially considered for the role of Matt Murdock’s best friend, Foggy Nelson. But for some reason, he flat-out refused and had eyes only for the lead.
Charlie Cox Stood His Ground For Matt Murdock’s Role
When Charlie Cox first auditioned for Daredevil, he had his eyes set on only one thing playing Matt Murdock himself. However, the studio had other ideas. In an interview with GQ, Cox revealed that after his audition, he was invited to Los Angeles for a screen test, only to find out that they wanted him for the role of Foggy Nelson instead.
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“And for whatever reason, having had this kind of empowering experience, I said, ‘I will come, but I’m only reading for Matt. I’m only reading for the lead,’” Cox recalled. It was a bold move, especially for an actor who wasn’t yet a household name. But his gamble paid off.
Moreover, the role of Foggy eventually went to Elden Henson, and Cox went on to deliver one of the most critically acclaimed performances in the Marvel Television era. From its very first season, ‘Daredevil’ became a breakout hit for Netflix. Fans were hooked, critics were impressed, and it seemed like Daredevil was set for a long run. However, then, in 2018, the unthinkable happened.
Daredevil’s Long Road Back To The MCU
Despite the show’s success, ‘Daredevil’ was abruptly canceled after its third season. The decision blindsided both the cast and fans, leaving many to wonder why Netflix would axe a series that had received such widespread acclaim. Cox remembers exactly where he was when he got the news.
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“I got a call late at night, and my boss at Marvel Television at the time said, ‘They’ve pulled all the shows. All five of them,‘” Cox recalled. At the time, rumors claimed that Disney was preparing to launch its own streaming service and wanted to regain control of its Marvel properties.
Cox confirmed that there was indeed a “feud” between Netflix and Disney that led to the show’s demise. “There was some … I don’t know, it was a conversation about the politics behind it all, some feud between Netflix and Disney,” he said. However, his co-star Vincent D’Onofrio (Kingpin) remained hopeful.
“Vincent would always say, ‘Oh, they’ll bring us back,’” Cox shared. “And I used to say to my wife, ‘He’s delusional. He’s got to move on.’” And now we all know D’Onofrio was right. Now, Cox is gearing up for his biggest Marvel project yet, his own MCU-led series, ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, set to premiere on March 4.
