It’s official - Marvel has made the jump by bringing their Netflix characters to the officialMCU, and they did so in a massive way (two massive ways, actually). It had been teased for months (going on years) that Marvel was planning on bringing some of their beloved Netflix characters - such as Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, and many more - into the MCU. Reports of this came back in 2019 whenDisney+officially became accessible to the public and when Marvel announced that all future shows would be airing on the streamer service. This forced Netflix to cancel their fan-favorite Marvel shows and gave the rights back to Disney, shadowing the characters in an uncertain light and casting heavy doubts about the heroes' on-screen futures.
Updated June 08, 2025: If you’re a fan of the MCU and its cast of characters, this article was updated by Daredevil super fan Micah Bailey.
Yet in 2021, fans were quickly reassured asDaredevilandKingpinmade the leap to the MCU proper in the same week. First, Vincent D’Onofrio appeared as Kingpin in the fifth episode, which aired on August 05, 2025. Then, the next day, early screenings ofSpider-Man: No Way Homestarted when audiences saw Charlie Cox reprise his role as Matt Murdock. One year later, fans saw him suit up as Daredevil in an episode ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law. It appears that Marvel Studios has big plans for Daredevil and Kingpin as they are set to appear in multiple shows, so here are a few projects they are confirmed to appear in, as well as some they might show up in.
Echois confirmed to arrive on Disney+ in January 2024. The series is a spin-off of Hawkeye, which introduced the character of Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), a deaf Native American and former commander of the Tracksuit Mafia. In Hawkeye, it was revealed that Maya was the adopted niece of Kingpin and featured Vincent D’Onofrio reprising his role. Hawkeye ended with Maya shooting Kingpin, but it appears that he is not dead asD’Onofrio will return inEcho.
Related:Echo: Cast, Plot, and Everything Else We Know
In addition, it is confirmed that Charlie Cox will reprise his role as Daredevil inEcho. In the comics, Daredevil has a romantic history with Maya Lopez. While it is unclear if that will play out in the series, it certainly makes sense to bring the character intoEcho. Not only will it reunite Kingpin and Daredevil and likely serve as a lead-in forDaredevil: Born Again, but it provides an interesting connection to have a hero who is deaf and a hero who is blind meet and work together.
Daredevil: Born Again
Naturally, the most exciting news regarding Matt Murdock / Daredevil’s involvement in future projects is the MCU seriesDaredevil: Born Again. While the name is taken from an acclaimed storyline by Frank Miller, it is likely that the MCU is just using the name as the storyline was already adapted into season 3 of the Netflix series. They are using the title because it is a nice multilayered title for the revival of the Daredevil franchise. Details on the series are unknown but it is already confirmed that not only will Daredevil and Kingpin appear, but John Bernthal will be reprising his critically acclaimed role as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher.
Cox and D’Onofrio are scheduled to star in the new series, so anticipate another case of top-tier acting and unforgettable onscreen moments between the two actors.Filming has been halteddue to the WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes, so it is unclear when the series will premiere, but it is scheduled to run for 18 episodes, the most of any MCU Disney+ series so far. This means audiences will get plenty of Daredevil and Kingpin.
Spider-Man: Freshman Year
With his unique superpowers, iconic design, and endearing personality, Spider-Man is hands down one of the most popular and beloved heroes worldwide. While origin stories can run the risk of fatiguing and boring audiences, they can also introduce a whole new generation of people to a character, their backstory, etc., while also bringing about a wave of new fans. In the case ofSpider-Man: Freshman Year, that already appears to be the case.
While the details of this new show are very scarce as of this writing, we do know that the art style is meant to pay homage to the earlier art style prominently seen in the earlier comics. The animated series will explore Peter Parker and Spider-Man’s early adventures in the MCU but with a twist. Instead of being part of the MCU main storyline, it is an alternate reality where Norman Osborn recruits Spider-Man instead of Tony Stark
It is already confirmed thatCox will reprise his role as Daredevilin a voice role in the series, meaning this version of Spider-Man will cross paths with Daredevil before his MCU counterpart did as he first met him as his attorney, Matt Murdock, inSpider-Man: No Way Home. While Kingpin is not confirmed to appear yet, it would be fitting as Kingpin originally started out as a Spider-Man villain and was one of the major antagonists in the long-running Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
Spider-Man 4
Speaking of Spider-Man, the question is not if the MCU will make aSpider-Man 4but when. After the record-breaking box office smash hit ofSpider-Man: No Way Home, audiences have been waiting to find out more details about Spider-Man 4 for some time now. They will appear to wait longeruntil after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved.
YetSpider-Man 4is in a unique position. After how bigSpider-Man: No Way Homewent by featuring not just Doctor Strange but past Spider-Man villains and Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, how does the fourth film live up to that? It should be more small-scale as now Peter Parker is on his own, so putting him in a more grounded crime story is a great way to set up a new status quo. It also provides the perfect chance to team up with Daredevil.
Related:Why Daredevil Has Earned His Spot as an Avenger
Due to the contract, Sony is allowed and wants to use MCU characters in their Spider-Man movie, and Daredevil and Kingpin would be the ideal picks for the fourth film. Kingpin could be the main villain, paying homage to the classic comics and hiring many low-level Spider-Man villains as muscle and forcing Spider-Man and Daredevil to team up.With it being two street-level heroes, the movie could even unite Spider-Man and Daredevil with other characters in a team-up film like Punisher, Echo, or even other characters from the Defenders Saga.
Deadpool 3
Now, we said Daredevil and Kingpin, but we did not specify exactly which versions of the character.Deadpool 3is set to be a multiverse movie that will unite various Fox Marvel adaptation characters. In addition to Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, it has already been confirmed that Jennifer Garner will reprise her role as Elektra. Rumors have now circulated that Ben Affleck will reprise his role as Daredevil in a cameo role, similar to his Batman role inThe Flash.
While sadly,Michael Clarke Duncan cannot reprise his role as Kingpinas the actor sadly passed away in 2012, the multiverse could bring in another Kingpin actor. Notably, John Rhys-Davies, famous for his role as Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies, and Gimli inThe Lord of the Rings, played the character inThe Trial of the Incredible Hulktelevision film in 1989. Liev Schrieber voiced the character in 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and since he always played Sabertooth in 2009’sX-Men Origins: Wolverine, he could play both roles and Deadpool could make a comment on how similar they are.
Daredevil and Kingpin appear to be very important players in the MCU moving forward, not just impacting the MCU but also appearing throughout the multiverse. It is an exciting chapter in the franchise.
