Daredevil: Born Again exists in a unique space.
It continues the Netflix series (largely canon) while integrating into the current MCU. This requires balancing two continuities—honoring the past while enabling future crossovers.
Here's every connection to the wider Marvel universe in Born Again.
Echo Connections
Maya Lopez appeared in Born Again before her solo series.
The Timeline: Echo's Disney+ series takes place before Born Again. Maya has history with Fisk.
- Kingpin's facial scarring from Echo's finale
- Mentions of events in Oklahoma
- His complicated feelings about his "daughter"
Character Evolution: Fisk in Born Again shows trauma from what Maya did. He's different now.
The Connection: Born Again rewards Echo viewers while remaining accessible to those who skipped it.
Spider-Man References
Matt Murdock appeared in No Way Home. Born Again acknowledges this.
The Case: Matt represented Peter Parker. This is referenced in Born Again's legal scenes.
Hell's Kitchen Reality: Spider-Man exists in this world. His absence from Hell's Kitchen is notable but not addressed directly.
The Brick: Yes, there's a callback to Matt catching the brick thrown through Peter's window.
Future Potential: Spider-Man 4 could feature Daredevil. Born Again sets this up without forcing it.
What's Not Said: The show doesn't over-explain the connection. Smart viewers piece it together.
Kingpin's MCU History
Wilson Fisk has been busy since the Blip.
Hawkeye Events: Fisk's appearance in Hawkeye (fighting Kate Bishop) is canon. His injury from that encounter is referenced.
Echo Events: Maya shooting Fisk happened. His recovery explains his absence from crime.
Rise to Power: Born Again shows how Fisk went from criminal to Mayor. The Blip's chaos enabled his political career.
The Timeline: Netflix → Blip → Hawkeye → Echo → Born Again. It's complicated but coherent.
Character Consistency: Vincent D'Onofrio plays the same Fisk throughout. His evolution makes sense.
Potential Future Crossovers
Born Again sets up multiple possibilities.
Spider-Man: Most obvious crossover. Hell's Kitchen is Spider-Man's extended neighborhood.
She-Hulk: Jennifer Walters and Matt Murdock had chemistry in She-Hulk. Could continue.
Punisher: Frank Castle's appearance in Born Again could lead to a revival.
The Defenders: Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist—could any return?
Avengers: Street-level heroes might join bigger events. Daredevil vs Kang?
The Setup: Born Again establishes Matt Murdock in the current MCU without limiting future stories.
What's Canon, What's Not
The Netflix question, answered (sort of).
- Matt, Karen, Foggy's relationships
- Kingpin's history with Matt
- The existence of the Hand
- General events of Netflix seasons
- Specific episode details
- Exact timeline
- Some character fates
- Visual updates (costumes, technology)
- Some relationship details smoothed over
- Timeline compression
The Approach: Born Again treats Netflix as broadly canon without being beholden to every detail.
For New Viewers: You don't need Netflix to understand Born Again. But it enriches the experience.
The Truth: Marvel wants flexibility. Born Again honors the past while keeping future options open.