I can’t get over the way in whichMarvelbrought back Charlie Cox as Daredevil a month beforeDaredevil: Born Again. While other actors have played Daredevil before - with Ben Affleck notably taking on the mantle in 2003’sDaredevilmovie - Charlie Cox has long been the actor most associated with and most appreciated for his performance as Matt Murdock. Though it seemed like Cox might not don the Daredevil costume again after his stint as the hero initially ended in 2018,the MCU timelinebrought him back in 2021’sSpider-Man: No Way Home, building a new path forward.
However, sinceDaredevil’s solo MCU showDaredevil: Born Againis set to release in March 2025, there’s been a considerable gap in which we’ve only been able to really get glimpses of Cox’s Marvel hero, with him first cropping up to serve as Peter Parker’s legal advisor, appearing to have a tryst with She-Hulk in her series, and then later appearing inEcho. This unusual trend of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil appearances in the build up toDaredevil: Born Againhas continued into 2025 itself, with the hero getting one seemingly final cameo before his own show begins.
Charlie Cox Has Returned On-Screen As Daredevil Again A Month Before Daredevil: Born Again
Charlie Cox returns as Daredevil inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manepisode 6. This is an unusual decision since the Spider-Man series takes place in another universe where most other Marvel heroes are played by other actors rather than their main MCU timeline counterparts, since the story features him and Spider-Man fighting, and in thatYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manis an animated show. As such, Cox’s return here comes in a very different format, with him serving as the voice of Daredevil rather than playing the iconic Marvel character in live-action as we’ve been used to over the years.
These factors combine to make Charlie Cox’s Daredevil appearance in the Spider-Man story feel like a continuation of the now 4 year long tradition of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen cropping up in releases and circumstances where he’d often arguably be least expected. With that said, it’s also certainly an enjoyable return, especially as it’s been several years since we’ve gotten to see Charlie Cox play Daredevil, and becauseYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manepisode 6makes sure to show Daredevil’s fighting skills and vigilante prowess off.
Daredevil appearing to investigate Norman Osborn’s dealings allows for him and Spider-Man to have an exciting battle that shows off both of the heroes' strengths- since Spider-Man is allied with Osborn and believes Daredevil’s investigation to simply be illegal tampering with Oscorp - while showcasing how different Spider-Man is to the other heroes in his world, even when it comes to fellow New York superheroes. The sequence also lets Daredevil further tease that Norman Osborn might not be as good as Peter believes, since Daredevil tries to warn the younger hero that Osborn is “hiding something”.
Why Charlie Cox Appears As Daredevil In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Charlie Cox appearing as Daredevil inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man- despite the show taking place in a different universe to the main MCU timeline, and other actors taking on hero roles within this alternate world - makes sense first and foremost as a way to tie the two universes closer together.Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manhas already underlined to us the similarities between the worlds and the events within them via showing that the Sokovia Accords andCaptain America: Civil Warairport fight still took place - sans Spider-Man - but bringing in an MCU actor helps reinforce things.
On a similar note, Cox’s appearance as Daredevil - albeit an alternate universe Daredevil - provides fans with another chance to see the actor as the character beforeDaredevil: Born Againitself. Since it doesn’t seem like it would strictly make sense for Daredevil to crop up in any of the other releases before his solo show, theYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Mancameo lets audiences get another look at the hero that doesn’t clash with the MCU’s other projects or set up story avenues that the main timeline would have to resolve, making it an easier way to build Daredevil’s on-screen portfolio.
It’s also worth noting that the nature of Daredevil’s appearance inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manepisode 6 - namely, that he fights with Spider-Man for some time - allows for an exciting battle that the MCU simply may not be able to do itself. While Matt Murdock logically won’t remember Peter Parker is Spider-Man afterSpider-Man: No Way Home’s ending, having a Daredevil vs Spider-Man fight scene may not be on the cards for the pair’s MCU future due to their similar hero goals, meaning having Charlie Cox’s Daredevil fight him here could be all the more significant.
Charlie Cox’s Last Marvel Appearance Before Daredevil: Born Again Couldn’t Be More Different To The Promised Tone For His Show
Daredevil: Born Againhas been teased to be one of the MCU’s most adult and brutal series to date, both because of the age ratings that the show has garnered, and because of the descriptions those involved have provided of its story and scenes in the lead up to its release. Showrunner Dario Scardapane has alluded tothe dark nature ofDaredevil: Born Againmore than once, most interestingly stating that: “We’re much darker. This is as far as a Disney Plus show has ever gone.”
As such,it’s especially interesting that Charlie Cox’s seeming last appearance as Daredevil beforeDaredevil: Born Againis arguably his most family-friendly.Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manis aimed to be suitable for younger audiences, and features none of the blood that the originalDaredevilcan be associated with, and that the series' successor no doubt intends to follow up on.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manseason 1’s final two episodes release July 24, 2025, two weeks beforeDaredevil: Born Againpremieres.
Appearing in two such opposite releases might seem jarring - especially after there were criticisms that Daredevil’s appearance inShe-Hulk: Attorney At Lawplayed down the serious side of the character. However, making sure a character that some viewers might otherwise not get a chance to see inDaredevil: Born Againdoes ensure audiences are more universally aware of the hero. This could well help if Cox’s Daredevil appears in the likes ofAvengers: DoomsdayorAvengers: Secret Wars- and, either way, ensures a more universal awareness of a character Marvel could be set to lean into more on-screen going forward.
