Daredevil: Born Again Should Learn From The Penguin

Summary

HBO’sThe Penguinhas made an undeniable impact since its first episode and is already being hailed as one of the best superhero shows on television. The DC TV show’s success could provide an important learning for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly with its upcoming Disney+ series,Daredevil: Born Again.

The Penguinis the first spin-off in Matt Reeves’The Batmanuniverse. It exists separately from the new DC cinematic universe that is on the way from James Gunn and Peter Safran, as well as the previous DCEU that contained films likeMan of SteelandWonder Woman. WhileThe Penguinis designed to sit outside the major DCU canon,Daredevil: Born Againwill be somewhat the opposite. The series is a new story that is set within the canon of the MCU, but sees the cast of Netflix’sDaredevilseries return. While the two shows exist in completely different universes with different comic book characters,Daredevil: Born Againhas the potential to make a similar impact on the MCU asThe Penguinis doing for DC.

Daredevil Leaving Netflix

The Penguin is DC’s Prestige Drama

DC’s television slate up until this point has generally consisted of the Arrowverse slate of TV shows which includedArrow, The Flash, Supergirl,and more. While very popular and beloved by fans, the Arrowverse shows sit in a different league fromThe Penguinand are aimed at a broader audience. AsThe Penguinis an HBO TV show, it has the freedom to push the boundaries in terms of its violence and themes, and it has the budget to go bigger with its action. This has helpedThe Penguinmaintain a standard set byThe Batmanand has elevated it to a prestigious level of television.

The Penguin’sprestige status doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the DCU’s upcoming TV shows should strive to do the same thing, but it does provide a welcome change from the typical DC television shows to date.

Daredevil Born Again Should Follow the Penguin’s Lead

Daredevil: Born Again Could Shake Up the Tone of the MCU

Similar to the Arrowverse, the MCU has established something of a tone in its Disney+ TV series to date. While many of Marvel’s TV shows have explored a variety of genres, they mostly adhere to the superhero tone that the MCU is known for.WithDaredevil: Born Again, the MCUhas the opportunity to do something different and perhaps create its own prestigious superhero TV show.

The Netflix Marvel series, while potentially no longer canon,set a dark and brutal tone forDaredevil. It was rated TV-MA and was therefore able to lean into the violent side of the character and world. This tone and rating were welcomed by fans, withMarvel’s Daredevilmaintaining a 92% overall score on Rotten Tomatoes to this day. In 2023, Marvel Studios paused production onDaredevil: Born Againand began a creative overhaul of the series, which would reportedly bring it more in line with the tone of the Netflix series. More recently Marvel Studios confirmed thatDaredevil: Born Againwould maintain a TV-MA rating on Disney+, something it has only done once before withEcho.

WhileEchodid embrace a darker tone and genrethan the other MCU Disney+ series, it failed to reach the same level of prestige as something likeThe Penguin. However, Marvel Studio’s overhaul ofDaredevil: Born Againsignifies that the studio is looking to shake up the tone of its Disney+ series, which means it could be striving to make a prestige-level TV show in the MCU, in the same vein asThe Penguin.

Beyond tone,Daredevil: Born AgainandThe Penguinshare another commonality.The Penguinis a gritty crime series exploring the dark criminal underworld of Gotham City, something which has traditionally only been seen through the hero’s perspective. Similarly,Daredevil: Born Againis more of a street-level seriesthan other MCU properties and will likely provide a more grounded look at New York City and its criminal organizations.

This is another area whereDaredevil: Born Againcould learn something fromThe Penguin. FramingGotham City through the eyes of The Penguinand stepping away from the superhero element of Batman has allowed the series to explore the intricacies of its crime underworld. This has allowed for a new type of superhero TV show to emerge, one that’s more similar to classic mobster dramas likeThe SopranosorThe Godfather. It’s a move that’s been praised by audiences, and it’s somethingDaredevil: Born Againcould do for Marvel. The show will naturally include some inherent superhero elements by way of it being a Daredevil show, but Daredevil’s story has typically been more grounded and gritty. It is set among the unseen criminal organizations that pull the strings in New York City, rather than the more fantastical enemies or threats that the Avengers would normally deal with.

Framing Gotham City through the eyes of the Penguinand stepping away from Batman has allowed the series to explore the intricacies of its crime underworld.

Daredevil: Born Again Could Be The MCU’s Version of The Sopranos

There’s every indication thatDaredevil: Born Againwill continue being a grounded crime drama like the Netflix series, with Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock going up against his old enemy, thecrime lord Wilson Fisk. When it comes to Fisk,Daredevil: Born Againcould take a similar tact to that ofThe Penguin, and give the character a sympathetic arc and backstory, which will make him a compelling foil to Daredevil. It’s also in these areas thatDaredevil: Born Againcould take a genre approach likeThe Penguin, and build up its criminal element to be styled like classic mobster dramas.

Every detail released aboutDaredevil: Born Againseems to indicate it will be a tonal shift for the MCU’s TV shows on Disney+. But whether it can reach thesame high bar asThe Penguinis yet to be seen. If it can, it will be a major achievement for Marvel Studios and could establish a new avenue for TV shows in the MCU.

Daredevil: Born Againis scheduled to release on Disney+ on Jul 31, 2025.