Having officially canonized Netflix's "Defenders Saga" after Echo, Marvel Studios has set about rebooting these shows with new sequels for Disney+. Daredevil: Born Again was the first to receive this treatment, but The Punisher will get a one-off follow-up Special Presentation in 2026, and there are even rumors that Jessica Jones may be next up after she returns to the MCU next year.
Despite debuting as a Disney+ exclusive sequel to a Netflix original, Daredevil: Born Again has already found its second home just three months after its Season 1 finale premiered in April. Disney-owned cable channel FX aired all nine episodes of the reboot on Tuesdays from July 22 to August 5.
Daredevil: Born Again coming to cable isn't the only recent update surrounding Marvel Studios' plans to revive the Netflix universe...
The Future of the MCU's Netflix Defenders Revival
Jessica Jones Is Coming Back in Season 2
Over six years after her Netflix show ended, Breaking Bad star Krysten Ritter is officially reprising Jessica Jones in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, and Charlie Cox already teased her major role. She will presumably return to aid Matt Murdock in his resistance against Kingpin's anti-vigilante laws in New York.
Jon Bernthal's Punisher Makes Big Screen Debut
After he returns once again in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Jon Bernthal's Punisher will make his big-screen debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Production is currently underway ahead of its July 31, 2026, release, with Punisher set to receive some upgrades to match bigger threats.
The Punisher Is Getting a Disney+ Special
But that's not all, as The Punisher will make a historic three appearances next year thanks to his own Disney+ Special Presentation. The Werewolf by Night-esque special will pit Frank Castle against a "female crime boss" in a tale that Bernthal co-wrote with King Richard director Reinaldo Marcus Green.
A Third Disney+ Revival Project May Be Coming
While Daredevil and The Punisher will both have gotten Disney+ revivals as of next year, Marvel Studios doesn't seem to be slowing down as it is reportedly "considering" a new Jessica Jones project. If it happens, this project is presumably in the earliest stages following Ritter's recent Born Again return.
Daredevil: Born Again Could Get a Third Season
Charlie Cox recently raised alarm bells after referring to Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 as the "final season," but that may not be the case. Kingpin actor Vincent D'Onofrio later addressed the Disney+ series' renewal chances, hinting there is a "good chance there will be a third."
Iron Fist Just Returned (Kind Of)
The MCU introduced its first Iron Fist through Finn Jones' Danny Rand on Netflix, who has yet to come back under Marvel Studios. That said, Disney+ may be taking steps in that direction after introducing a new, female Iron Fist in Eyes of Wakanda through Jona Xiao's Jorani, who was active around 1400.
Why Is Daredevil: Born Again Coming to Cable?
Daredevil: Born Again marks only Disney+'s second live-action MCU series to air on broadcast TV, as Ms. Marvel made its way to ABC in August 2023 in multi-episode blocks to fill a content void created by the Hollywood strikes.
FX hosts a plethora of MCU content alongside Daredevil: Born Again, regularly airing films from the franchise's history, from classics such as Iron Man to recent hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Recently, another Disney-owned cable channel, FXX, took on two of Marvel Studios' latest animated series with Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and X-Men '97.
This isn't the only way Marvel Studios has experimented in taking its content outside Disney+ to other House of Mouse-owned avenues. Previously, Echo was historically released on Hulu at the same time as Disney+, while subscribers also received three episodes of Secret Invasion.
FX viewers will be treated to an all-star cast in Daredevil: Born Again's nine episodes, such as Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Jon Bernthal, and some fresh MCU faces.
Daredevil: Born Again's Disney+ viewership hit a new low for the MCU, likely due to its adult content combined with the franchise's larger struggles. This came as a shock to many, given Daredevil's massive popularity on Netflix and the critical acclaim that Born Again quickly garnered upon its release.
Having struggled to get one of its best Disney+ shows out to as many viewers as hoped, Born Again's FX airing could bring fresh eyes to the Netflix reboot before Season 2 premieres next March and continues the tale.
With Daredevil: Born Again expected to be a long-running show with multiple seasons (if Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio are to be believed), perhaps an FX airing months after the original Disney+ run will become the norm for the series to make the show available to as many fans as possible.
As Marvel no longer produces content made for linear television (like Agents of SHIELD or Agent Carter), airing its content on those channels could be a smart move to recapture an audience that may not be as privy to streaming shows.
If the move proves successful, the Man Without Fear surely won't be the last to have his Disney+ series come to FX or other broadcast channels. While more recent releases, such as Ironheart may be the obvious move, Marvel Studios could bring past shows like Loki and WandaVision in that direction too.
