Summary
- Daredevil: Born Again showrunner compares the upcoming series to The Penguin, potentially hurting the show’s image.
- Fans worry about the show’s reception due to the unnecessary comparison and bold claims made by the showrunner.
- Comparing Daredevil to The Penguin may not be accurate, as they belong to different genres and tones.
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane seems to have sparked some mild controversy, all thanks to one particular comparison with a hit DC TV series. With just around a month to go until the Disney+ series starts streaming, his comments might not only be polarizing but also inherently flawed, as they don’t quite align with the essence of the upcoming Marvel show.
Hands down, HBO’s The Penguin was one of the best TV shows of 2024, breaking new ground in the superhero television genre. The first-ever Marvel Netflix series, Daredevil, had a similar impact, so it makes sense that these shows would be compared by fans. However, one of Born Again’s creators has beaten the audience to it by making the comparison themselves, which could hurt the upcoming show’s image and the hype surrounding it.
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Daredevil: Born Again Has Fans Worried After Showrunner Takes Dig at the Netflix Series
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane is under fire for criticizing the Netflix show, which has fans worried about the Disney Plus series.
Dario Scardapane Compares Daredevil To The Penguin
Showrunner Claims The Series Is Disney+’s Darkest Yet
Last week, in an interview with SFX Magazine, Dario Scardapane called The Penguin a direct competition to Daredevil: Born Again. The showrunner went on to describe the upcoming Marvel series as more grounded and less stylized than the Batman spin-off from last year. Scardapane also referenced the original Daredevil Netflix series in his comparison, stating that the new show is as far as a Disney+ series has ever pushed its boundaries.
It’s really strange. You work in a vacuum and then something else comes out and you go, ‘Oh, wow’. I would say in many ways The Penguin is our direct competition. However, we’re even more grounded, even less stylized, even more rooted in the here and now. I loved Penguin. We’re a little faster, meaner, cleaner in our storytelling.
The showrunner’s comments clearly did not sit well with fans, many of whom took to social media to express their distaste over the seemingly unnecessary comparison. While some excitement remains unchanged thanks to the trailer, the statements have still created a sense of discomfort regarding how the show will be received.
It has a pace and a scope that, for a lot of reasons, Netflix wasn’t able to do. They were very dark cinematically, not necessarily story-wise, although there were some dark elements. We’re much darker. This is as far as a Disney Plus show has ever gone.
Bold Claims May Backfire If Daredevil: Born Again Fails
The Penguin Comparison Could Impact Reception
Even setting aside the Marvel vs. DC debate, comparing an acclaimed hit show to something that has yet to be released hasn’t landed well in terms of public perception. But more importantly, there’s a deeper issue at play. Many superhero stories are increasingly trying to appear grounded and realistic, even when they don’t align with the universe they’re set in. This could very well be the case with Daredevil: Born Again as well.
If Daredevil: Born Again manages to become a big hit and a solid addition to the MCU, the Penguin comparisons might actually gain more traction among fans, who would gladly vouch for their respective favorites. However, if the Disney+ series turns out to be a missed opportunity for Marvel, Dario’s comparisons could come back to haunt them. Even if the reactions are mixed, such a bold statement could have a negative impact, potentially dragging the series down further than it deserves.
The Penguin Isn’t The Right Comparison For Daredevil
One Is A Superhero Show, The Other Isn’t
Moreover, The Penguin seems like the wrong yardstick to measure Daredevil: Born Again against. Just because both shows have dark, gritty aesthetics doesn’t mean they belong in the same category. The Penguin was arguably the furthest thing from the superhero genre. The character never felt like a traditional comic book villain; instead, he was more of a Tony Soprano-style gangster who lied and schemed his way up the mafia ranks.
Daredevil: Born Again, on the other hand, is very clearly a superhero show at its core: it’s literally about a blind lawyer who is also a costumed hero fighting bad guys. Moreover, The Penguin centers around a detestable antagonist, whereas Matt Murdock is clearly a good guy. Perhaps if Marvel ever creates a full-fledged Wilson Fisk/Kingpin spin-off series, that would be a more fitting comparison to The Penguin.
Marvel Doesn’t Need To Go Darker Than Daredevil
MCU’s Evolution Makes Comparisons Unnecessary
It’s been a long time since the Marvel Cinematic Universe shed its image of simply making loud action blockbusters with funny one-liner quips from its heroes. The franchise has experimented with so many genres now that talking about going darker than other Marvel projects seems unnecessary. In fact, the original Marvel-Netflix Daredevil series was clearly meant to avoid flashy crossovers and focused more on dark crime fiction. So, given that Born Again is simply continuing and reviving this series, it doesn’t need to step on The Penguin‘s toes just to fit a particular flavor.
Moreover, Dario Scardapane’s approach to Daredevil: Born Again, trying to make it more grounded and less stylized than The Penguin, doesn’t make sense at all in the context of the big picture. If Matt Murdock’s presence is to be felt more in the rest of the MCU, especially in the upcoming Spider-Man 4, the character needs to be placed in a setting and tone that better aligns with his integration into these films. Considering his appearances in No Way Home as Peter Parker’s lawyer and his two-episode stint in She-Hulk, Murdock might need to undergo a tonal shift to better accommodate his complex return to the MCU.
Chasing Darkness Could Be A Red Flag
Creators are free to express their opinions and reasoning about the works they are involved in, just as Dario Scardapane rightfully has about Daredevil: Born Again. However, simply aiming for a darker and more grounded tone doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the series will be good. In fact, even DC, which has long been associated with a gritty tone, is now taking a different direction under James Gunn’s supervision. Needless to say, trying too hard to emulate a show like The Penguin simply because it was successful could serve as a red flag for Daredevil: Born Again—unless, of course, the series proves us wrong.