'No one wanted to do it' - Inside Daredevil: Born Again's most shocking twist

05-03-2025

Daredevil giveth, and Daredevil taketh away. After a seven-year wait, Daredevil: Born Again has premiered its first two episodes on Disney+, and in its opening moments, fans were immediately reminded why they missed this show so much – and how quickly it could break their hearts. Warning: this article contains spoilers The first episode begins focusing on the camaraderie of its three lead characters – Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) – following them down the street as they go out after work. Their fun is interrupted, however, when a sniper attacks – and Foggy is killed. 'The decision led to a lot of sleepless nights, and many, many long creative discussions,' producer Brad Winderbaum tells The National. 'It's not something we took lightly. In fact, no one really wanted to do it – but we all realised we needed to do it.' The question, of course, is why? The simple answer is: This is Daredevil. What has made this character stand out from his countless contemporaries since the character was first introduced by Stan Lee and Bill Everett in 1964 is that he struggles more – both in his heart and in his circumstances, this is a character who is constantly pushed to his limits and finding a way to keep going. It's Marvel's version of the biblical Book of Job – a character whose faith is constantly tested, but never lost. And so, to reintroduce the show after such a long wait, Murdock had to be tested even further than he's ever been – and instantly. 'At the end of season three of the show, they lay out their dream,' says showrunner Dario Scardapane, referring to the three characters' ambitions towards running a law firm together. 'We show that the dream is realised, and then we start to take it apart. Everything had to change.' Winderbaum adds: 'Being Daredevil comes at a cost, oftentimes a significant one, oftentimes a mortal one for the people in Matt's life. And if we were going to push Matt over the line and have him a decision that would shatter his sense of morality, we knew it had to be caused by something as significant as that murder in the first episode.' 'Death comes with a loss of innocence and a feeling that you know the finality of not being able to go back. And it is devastating, but we determined behind the scenes, it's necessary for the story – as sad as it might be, as hard as it is to watch,' Winderbaum continues. Part of the reason the creative team behind Daredevil: Born Again knew they had to pull the trigger, so to speak, is because they already saw what would happen if they didn't start the show with such an emotionally impactful moment. In 2023, six episodes were filmed that didn't meet the standards that Daredevil had set over its three Netflix seasons, which led to stars Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio – who plays the villain Wilson Fisk – getting together with Marvel head Kevin Feige and the other key producers to figure out how they could fix things. They decided to scrap what they'd made entirely and start over – which led to Scardapane being brought in to take over the show. 'We wanted it to be connected to the Netflix show,' says D'Onofrio. 'And that comes with a darker tone and a whole a very different approach than what we were trying to do it at the beginning. We realised pretty early that we had to have strong conviction when it came to keeping the new show attached to the original.' While some reports have said that it was D'Onofrio and Cox alone that had identified the problems and asked Feige for the chance to start over, Cox is quick to correct the record. 'I think it's important to clarify that you know that the shift that was made midway through shooting was a collaborative decision,' says Cox. 'I applaud them for trying something different. And I applaud them for recognising early on that it wasn't quite working in the way that we hoped it would, and for having the courage and the foresight to make changes which can't have been easy and can't have been cheap. We feel very grateful to have to be working for a studio that will everything it takes to get it right.' While it may have been collaborative, the studio has the utmost respect for D'Onofrio and Cox, and throughout the series, Scardapane treated them as equal collaborators, leaning on them for important creative decisions. 'Charlie and Vincent are co-writers of this show – there's no two ways about that. And I say that as someone with a massive ego,' says Scardapane. 'When you have the two of these characters together, and it becomes something else. And they know that. They know that alchemy better than I do.' The most difficult part of the change was saying goodbye to Elden Henson. 'Eldon is a big part of the of the Daredevil family,' says Winderbaum. But Scardapane ensures that the event won't be forgotten any time soon – and will continue playing out for years to come. 'It wasn't done gratuitously, and it has a payoff that extends past this season into the second season. It's a very long throw,' says Scardapane. Daredevil: Born Again is now streaming on Disney+

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Amr Youssef on how Darwish brings old-school Egyptian cinema back to the big screen

The National

10 hours ago

The National

Amr Youssef on how Darwish brings old-school Egyptian cinema back to the big screen

If playing a villain is the most fun an actor can have, playing a sleek con man might be one of the most challenging roles to take on, says actor Amr Youssef. The Egyptian star, 44, recalls preparing the titular role as a con artist in Darwish, whose attempt to steal a rare jewel in one last job before going straight goes disastrously wrong. Youssef recalls preparing for the role as similar to a writer crafting a novel. "The villain is really a straightforward matter and can be one-dimensional at times that often violence is used to project power and to ensure that everyone else knows where he stands," he tells The National. "A con artist is a different thing altogether. The actor really has to draw the character, so to speak, on screen in detail, build those emotional details in a subtle way and then instead of power, you need charisma. There is a lot going on that you have to keep mindful of." Out in Egyptian cinemas on Thursday and in UAE cinemas on August 28, the film features a stellar Egyptian cast including Tara Emad, Dina El Sherbiny and Mohamed Shahin. Youssef describes his character as a man torn between living his code of 'think fast and act faster' and getting acquainted with a newfound domestic life after being caught in the lives of two women (Emad and El Sherbiny) who have their own secrets to hide. "One of the things that drew the character in was that he found himself in a home with children and responsibilities when he absolutely didn't want to. Then he starts enjoying them," Youssef explains. "It then moves quickly, full of events and shifting loyalties and you want to know what happens next – to Darwish, to the women in his life, to everyone caught in his web." Youssef shares plenty of naturally zippy exchanges with El Sherbiny, something honed from more than a decade of working together in various projects such as Grand Hotel, a 2016 television series based on the popular Spanish telenovela, as well as the 2016 romcom Kedbet Kol Youm. The latest film marks the ninth time they have worked together, and Youssef says he is not surprised by their on-screen chemistry. "We have come to understand each other immediately on set," he says. "And in Darwish, Dina is doing something different in that there is a real sharpness to her character that she captures perfectly." While they share a close friendship, getting that chemistry relies on more than personal rapport, he explains. "It comes from truly believing the other actor and you are both not just reading the lines. You are really turning the words on paper into flesh and blood." As for the reported friendly rivalry between the two, Youssef says people are looking at it through the wrong lens. "I don't really believe that the stronger actor steals the scene," he notes. "I think it's the opposite – the better the actor opposite you, the stronger you become." It's a collaborative approach that he learnt starring alongside Egyptian actor Nour El Sherif in the 2007 drama series El Daly. In his screen debut as the adopted son of a business tycoon played by El Sherif, Youssef recalls how the veteran actor ensured everyone on set felt valued. "And even if you weren't part of the production, he made you feel special," he says. "I remember one evening after a particularly long shoot, we were all exhausted. A family approached him in the street wanting photos. He was tired, we all were, but he stopped and spent time with them – asked about their children, made them laugh." The lesson stayed with him. "Later I asked him about it, and Nour – may God bless him – said, 'Never say no to someone who likes your work. They're the reason we do this.' I learnt more by just watching him than being told." A keen observer of regional industry trends, Youssef says Darwish is a throwback to a kind of Egyptian cinema lost amid the seemingly unending waves of superhero blockbusters from the past decade. "The saturation of these superhero films over the years has really affected all film industries, not just Hollywood," Youssef notes. "You're even getting big directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino frustrated at how American cinema has narrowed." The comparison to Egyptian cinema is telling. "If you look at Egyptian films from the 1950s and '60s – films like The Nightingale's Prayer or Cairo Station – they were simple stories, beautifully told, with characters you cared about. That's what has been gradually disappearing." This is what ultimately drew Youssef to Darwish, it has that connection to earlier tradition, because its commercial appeal is backed by substance. "It reminded me of the films I loved watching years ago. It has the warmth, elegance and attention to detail and a certain generosity towards the audience,' he says. 'But at its core, it's about character and consequence, not explosions or special effects. That's the kind of story worth telling."

Deadpool in 'Avengers: Doomsday'? Ryan Reynolds' cryptic post has fans buzzing

Khaleej Times

3 days ago

Khaleej Times

Deadpool in 'Avengers: Doomsday'? Ryan Reynolds' cryptic post has fans buzzing

Marvel fans are losing their minds after Ryan Reynolds dropped a cryptic tease that could hint at Deadpool crashing the Avengers party. Earlier today, the Deadpool & Wolverine star posted an image of the iconic Avengers logo without context. The post sent social media into a frenzy, with speculation that the foul-mouthed mercenary might finally join Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The post comes weeks after Marvel's massive six-hour cast reveal for Avengers: Doomsday. While the lineup was impressive, several big names were noticeably absent. Marvel Studios said that the list wasn't final — especially with Avengers: Secret Wars still coming in 2027 — but Reynolds' sudden tease left fans connecting dots, with some stating theories of how Deadpool could fit in. Many even wondered how Deadpool's R-rated chaos would mesh with the film's PG-13 tone. What we know about Avengers: Doomsday Billed as one of Marvel's biggest ensemble events yet, Avengers: Doomsday blends legacy heroes, fan favourites, and new faces. Confirmed cast includes Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), and Tom Hiddleston (Loki). The next-gen roster will also shine, with Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, Simu Liu's Shang-Chi, Letitia Wright's Shuri, and Wyatt Russell's U.S. Agent all returning. In one of the film's most surprising moves, Robert Downey Jr. will return to the MCU — but as Doctor Doom, not Iron Man. Now, only time will tell if Deadpool will make his official Avengers debut in Doomsday, or is this just another one of his meta pranks?

Lindsay Lohan says moving to Dubai gave her the 'silence' she longed for

Filipino Times

4 days ago

Filipino Times

Lindsay Lohan says moving to Dubai gave her the 'silence' she longed for

For Lindsay Lohan, leaving her life in the United States to settle in Dubai was a major decision and one she says she has never regretted. The New York-born actress moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2015, but it was only recently, during promotions for her upcoming film Freakier Friday, that she opened up about her reasons for relocating. 'I feel the silence I have in Dubai to take time just to really think about what it is I want to do, and how I want to do it,' Lohan told the United Arab Emirates-based publication The National in an interview. 'Silence is something I didn't grow up having. Dubai is a long moment of silence for me, in a way — and that's really refreshing,' she added. She said the city allows her to slow down despite its bustling environment. In a separate interview on Live with Kelly and Mark, Lohan described Dubai as 'being far away' from Hollywood, giving her the space to live a 'very normal life.' She said she feels safe in the city, noting its privacy laws that prohibit taking someone's photo in public without permission. Lohan is set to reprise her role as Anna Coleman in Freakier Friday, the sequel to the 2003 hit Freaky Friday. In the film, Anna is now a single mother preparing to marry Filipino-British chef Eric Reyes (Manny Jacinto). Chaos ensues when Anna, her daughter Harper (Julia Butters), her mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Eric's daughter Lily (Sophia Hammons) mysteriously switch bodies with the two girls teaming up to stop the wedding.