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Marvel’s Daredevil is due for a return, but where will he show up next?

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thrilled at the announcement that Marvel Studios would expand the franchise over on Disney+. Upcoming shows will feature established characters like Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). And series like She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and Ms. Marvel will introduce new heroes.

But the big question mark in the world of Marvel TV is what will become of the heroes who previously starred on Netflix. Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, the Punisher, and Iron Fist all headlined their own now-canceled Netflix series. Marvel reportedly wants to bring the characters into the current MCU. But fans are mostly clamoring for one particular hero.

Charlie Cox 'Marvel's Daredevil'
Charlie Cox ‘Marvel’s Daredevil’ | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Fans of Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’ want the character to enter the movies

The 2003 Daredevil movie starring Ben Affleck might have been a hit. But fans of the comic balked at the adaptation. Instead, The Man Without Fear didn’t make a comeback in live action until 12 years later. That’s when Marvel’s Daredevil began its three-season run on Netflix. Viewers loved the action-packed series and Charlie Cox’s performance as Matt Murdock.

So much so, in fact, that he remains the Netflix hero MCU fans most want to see brought onto the big screen. For legal reasons, Marvel Studios isn’t allowed to use Daredevil until a few years after the show’s 2018 cancelation. But many fans have noted that syncs up with the perfect opportunity to bring Daredevil — or at least, his alter ego — into the movies.

With the MCU’s third Spider-Man film set for a 2021 release, rumors have been swirling Cox could appear. After all, Matt Murdock is a New York attorney. And given how Spider-Man: Far from Home ended, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) might need to begin mounting a defense ASAP. In the comics, Spider-Man and Daredevil are close friends. But could it happen on screen?

Star Charlie Cox responds to rumors he’ll appear in ‘Spider-Man 3’

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Cox directly addressed rumors he is set to pop up in the untitled Spider-Man 3. As much as the actor would love to return to the role, he seemed adamant that, if Daredevil does show up in the film, it won’t be Cox in the crimson suit.

I hadn’t heard those rumors, but it’s certainly not with my Daredevil. I’m not involved in it. If that’s true, it’s not with me. … As a fan of the Marvel movies, I’ve loved the little stuff where they pop up here and there, but because we were on Netflix, we weren’t able to do as much for legal reasons, I don’t know why. But I love the idea of Jessica and Matt showing up in the background or Matt as a lawyer advising Peter Parker. That’d be really, really cool.

That being said, Cox does clarify he had a blast playing the character and would absolutely be interested in joining the MCU again. He just hasn’t been asked about to do so yet. Netflix’s Daredevil technically shared continuity with the movies. But as Cox mentions, business reasons prevented the Netflix heroes from ever showing up on the big screen.

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Would Marvel Studios really recast Matt Murdock at this point?

With that division no longer an issue, it’s just a matter of time before Marvel Studios reintegrates Daredevil and company. The Netflix shows — especially Daredevil — have a fiercely devoted fan base. So it feels like a misstep to force other actors into the roles so relatively soon after the shows ended.

Of course, just because Cox denies his involvement doesn’t mean he won’t show up in the MCU, even in the next Spider-Man. After all, stars have had to straight-up lie to stay true to their contracts before. And even if Cox is being upfront (which he probably is), Marvel Studios might not have reached out yet.

If Matt Murdock does make an appearance in Spider-Man 3, it could only be a cameo or post-credits scene. That movie hasn’t started filming. And in order to keep a potential Daredevil role quiet, Marvel would probably squeeze that in toward the end of production and on a closed set. So, Daredevil fans, don’t count The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen out just yet.

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