Marvel Studios has already brought back several Defenders Saga characters inDaredevil: Born Again, but there are even more that would be great to see reprise their roles in theMCU. Following a massive creative overhaul after 2023’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes,Daredevil: Born Againbecame a direct continuation of the original Marvel TelevisionDaredevilseries, part of Netflix’s Defenders Saga. Marvel integrated theDefenders Saga into the MCU’s official timelinelast year, which brought some beloved characters from Netflix into the MCU’s canon.
Daredevil: Born Againhas already marked the return of many characters from the original series, aside from Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk.Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Jon Bernthal and Ayelet Zurer have reprised their roles fromDaredevil, but there are many other incrediblecharacters from the Defenders Sagawho also deserve to return. It’s possible these characters could come back infuture seasons ofDaredevil: Born Again, or any number of other street-level MCU projects.
10Turk Barrett
Rob Morgan Debuted As Turk Barrett In Daredevil Season 1 (2015)
Throughout the entire Defenders Saga, which ran between 2015 and 2019 on Netflix,a number of characters had immense crossover potential and appeared in practically every series. One of these characters was Rob Morgan’s small-time crook, Turk Barrett. Turk always acted out of self-interest, and never found himself completely affiliated with one group, which meant that, despite being a criminal, he also often provided valuable information to the vigilantes of New York. He also provided some brilliant comic relief that would be great to see brought back to the MCU.
1.01Into the Ring
2015
1.03Rabbit in a Snowstorm
1.05World on Fire
1.11The Path of the Righteous
2016
1.02Code of the Streets
1.12Soliloquy of Chaos
2017
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2.05One-Eyed Jacks
2019
Turk Barrett appeared in every single Defenders Saga series, so it would be great to see him also come back forDaredevil: Born Again, even just for a single episode. Turk is a key player in the criminal underbelly of New York City, whichBorn Againand the MCU’s upcoming street-level storieswill delve back into.Reintroducing characters such as Turk and other small-time criminals is a great way to flesh out this corner of the MCU, while characters of more strength and influence, such as Wilson and Vanessa Fisk, take up far more space in the wider MCU.
9Malcolm Ducasse
Eka Darville Debuted As Malcolm Ducasse In Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015)
Originally depicted as Jessica Jones' drug-addicted neighbor, Malcolm Ducasse was soon revealed to be Kilgrave’s pawn to spy on Jessica. When finally broken free of Kilgrave’s mind control,Malcolm made huge efforts to make amends, starting a support group for other victims of Kilgrave, and even working alongside Jessica as a private investigator before joining Jeri Hogarth’s firm. By theend ofJessica Jonesseason 3, Malcolm had rejoined Alias Investigations, which sets him up for a triumphant return to the MCU.
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With characters from Netflix’s Daredevil making their MCU debut, can some of the more interesting ones in Jessica Jones be far behind?
Malcolm Ducasse went through huge transformations and growth duringJessica Jones, which allowed him to go from a mind-controlled victim to a functioning member of society and high-roller.As Jessica Jones' associate and business partner, a return from Malcolm could go hand-in-hand with Jessica’s own return to the MCU, which has been heavily theorized and much-anticipated. Malcolm had a much bigger role in the Defenders Saga than he did in Marvel Comics, so it would be great to see this character development continue to be explored.
8Trish Walker’s Hellcat
Rachael Taylor Debuted As Trish Walker In Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015)
Captain America: Brave New Worldrevisited the Raft, a prison for superpowered individuals in the MCU, which could have hinted at one of its most notable residents returning to the MCU.Jessica Jonesseason 3 transformed former radio talk show host and Jessica’s adoptive sister into Hellcat, gifted enhanced agility, durability and cat-like reflexes by Dr. Karl Malus' experiment, but this also led to her becoming a killer.Trish Walker is one of the Defenders Saga’s most complex characters, so it would be great to see her return to the MCU, particularly alongside other inmates in the Raft.
The Raft now contains five known superpowered individuals, including Trish Walker’s Hellcat, Willis Stryker’s Diamondback fromLuke Cage, Helmut Zemo, Samuel Sterns' Leader and Thaddeus Ross' Red Hulk. Theories suggest these characters could form a Thunderbolts team in the MCU’s future.
In Marvel Comics,Patsy Walker’s Hellcatbecomes a formidable superhero, being featured as a member of the Defenders, the Lady Liberators and even the Avengers. She is regarded as one of Marvel’s most notable and powerful female heroes, butJessica Jonestransformed her into an antihero and even a villain, so it would be brilliant to see her take on a more heroic role if she returns to the MCU. Walker was resurrected and redeemed after a bought of insanity in Marvel Comics, so the same could be seen in the MCU, which would be fantastic to see.
7Colleen Wing’s Iron Fist
Jessica Henwick Debuted As Colleen Wing In Iron Fist Season 1 (2017)
Jessica Henwick’s Defenders Saga character became a staunch ally to Finn Jones' Danny Rand upon his return to New York from K’un-Lun.Colleen Wing ran the Chikara Dojo where she trained young warriors for the Hand, but turned her back on the ancient organization and her mentor, Bakuto, after learning their true nature. After traveling the world with Rand and taking down the Hand with the Defenders,Colleen Wing took the power of the Iron Fistfrom Davos, becoming the new holder of the mantle herself, while Rand also acquired his own Iron Fist.
There has been a huge amount of speculation regarding the Iron Fist’s return to the MCU, though it’s unclear which version this would be. It would be brilliant to have a female Iron Fist take up space in the MCU, especially since this could reviveplans for aDaughters of the Dragonseriesthat never came to fruition in the Defenders Saga.Many want to see Colleen Wing’s Iron Fist, which she channels through her signature sword, come back to the MCU, andDaredevil: Born Again, Shang-Chi 2and others present the opportunity for this to happen.
6Misty Knight
Simone Missick Debuted As Misty Knight In Luke Cage Season 1 (2016)
The idea that aDaughters of the Dragonseries could be featured in the MCU’s future not only means Colleen Wing should return, but also opens the door forSimone Missick’s Misty Knightto become a bona fide hero. Knight debuted as a detective inLuke Cageseason 1, but began to realize her superpower after she lost her arm inThe Defendersand gained a prosthetic bionic arm inLuke Cageseason 2.Misty Knight was one of the strongest aspects of the Defenders Saga, so her return to the MCU would be very welcome.
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With the return of Daredevil and Kingpin comes an opportunity for the MCU to bring back more fan-favorites from the Netflix shows.
In Marvel Comics, Misty Knight received a Stark Industries prosthetic arm that allowed her to start her own superhero career, including leading a Heroes for Hire team and even joining anincarnation of the Defenders.She could lead the charge into a new chapter of street-level stories in the MCU’s future, which means her return to the MCU could be paramount. Simone Missick is a very talented actor, and it would be wonderful to see her bring her wit, humor and strength back into the MCU.
5David Lieberman’s Micro
Ebon Moss-Bachrach Debuted As David Lieberman In The Punisher Season 1 (2017)
As one of Frank Castle’s longest-running and most dedicated allies, it would make sense for David Lieberman’s Micro to return alongside Jon Bernthal’s Punisher.Bernthal reprises his Defenders Saga role inDaredevil: Born Again, and is set to return in a Special Presentation focused on the Punisher, which presents a great opportunity for Micro to return. Luckily,Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s new MCU role, Ben Grimm’s ThinginThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, wouldn’t interfere with his possible return as Micro, given the completely CGI appearance of the Thing.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach joins Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Joseph Quinn in the main cast ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Introduced inThe Punisherseason 1, David Lieberman became a secret ally to Frank Castle as Micro, a former NSA analyst and member of the Rising Tide who faked his death to protect his family after seeing information he shouldn’t have.Micro helped Castle solve the mystery of his family’s death, and Castle, in turn, helped Micro return to his own family. While Micro was absent forThe Punisherseason 2, his prominence in the Punisher’s Marvel Comics narrative means he would make an excellent addition toFrank Castle’s upcoming story in the MCU.
4Stick
Scott Glenn Debuted As Stick In Daredevil Season 1 (2015)
Tragically,Scott Glenn’s Stick, the Chaste warrior who trained Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios, lost his life to the latter inThe Defenders. However, Marvel has proven time and again that this doesn’t need to mean the end. While it’s unlikely that Stick’s important death will be reversed,it’s possible that flashbacks inDaredevil: Born Againcould explore more of Stick’s backstory, or he could even be reincarnated, just as he is in Marvel Comics. Back in 2017, Glenn revealed toThe Hollywood Reporterthat Stick’s death might not be final, however.
I remember Jeph [Loeb] saying, “We’re in the Marvel Universe. If Elektra kills you, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dead.” And I said, “Okay.” But for me, the show is over, unless I get a phone call, and then it will or won’t [continue] depending on the deal and all of that stuff… when Jeph said that to me, he wasn’t talking about flashbacks. He was talking about literally whatever is going on in that world where people do in fact come back from death… All of that stuff really lies with the scriptwriter and with lines, and do I really want to go back and deal with those contact lenses again? I don’t know. It’s an impossible question to answer.
Scott Glenn’s comments eight years ago seem to imply that Jeph Loeb, the former Head of Marvel Television, had plans to bring Stick back from the dead, had the Defenders Saga continued. This could suggest thatMarvel Studios may adopt these plans, allowing Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios' mentor and father figure to officially return to the MCU. This would be brilliant to see, whether Scott Glenn returns to the role or someone else takes over, and this could happen as early asDaredevil: Born Again.
3Claire Temple
Rosario Dawson Debuted As Claire Temple In Daredevil Season 1 (2015)
Similarly to Turk Barrett,Rosario Dawson’s Claire Templewas another character who crossed over into almost every series of the Defenders Saga, only missing out onThe Punisher. First seen inDaredevilseason 1, Claire Temple was a nurse at Metro General Hospital who helped Matt Murdock on a number of occasions, andshe soon found herself embroiled in the lives of Jessica Jones, Danny Rand and Luke Cage, too. She even sparked a romantic connection with the latter, and soon established herself as a version of Marvel Comics' Night Nurse, a healer for heroes.
The Defenders
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Currently, nobody in the MCU fits this bill, thoughChristine Palmer did give Doctor Strange medical assistanceback in 2016. For the street-level heroes of the MCU, having an ally such as Claire Temple as the Night Nurse is a huge advantage, and Rosario Dawson did a fantastic job at portraying this steadfast, complex and badass character, who even had a hand in bringing together the Defenders on Netflix.Claire Temple is a fan-favorite character who many want to see return to live-action, especially since the Defenders Saga ended with lots of loose ends for her.
2Elektra Natchios
Élodie Yung Debuted As Elektra Natchios In Daredevil Season 2 (2016)
They say, “no body, no death,” which means the door is open forÉlodie Yung to reprise her role of Elektra Natchios. First seen inDaredevilseason 2, Elektra was revealed to be a past love interest of Matt Murdock, daughter figure and trainee of Stick, and the infamous Black Sky, the mythological being that the Hand sought. Elektra is a formidable antihero in Marvel Comics, so it would be a shame for her to not return to the MCU, andYung’s interpretation is arguably the best ever brought to the screen, making her possible reprisal incredibly exciting.
5 Upcoming MCU Movies & Shows Elektra Could Return In
Netflix’s Defenders characters are appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, foreshadowing the possible future return of Elektra Natchios.
Elektra was last seen trapped beneath Midland Circle alongside Daredevil, her one true love, when the building was blown up inThe Defenders. However,Daredevil’s return implies that Elektra could have also survivedthe building’s collapse.She has already come back from the dead once, and, in Marvel Comics, she was resurrected after being murdered by Bullseye, so there are a number of opportunities for Marvel Studios to bring her back. This could see her finally become a bona fide hero alongside Daredevil, perhaps even becoming a Thunderbolt or an Avenger.
1The Defenders
Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter & Finn Jones Played Jessica Jones, Luke Cage & Danny Rand In The Defenders Saga
Perhaps the most exciting and likely characters to return from the Defenders Saga would be the other Defenders themselves: Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones, Mike Colter’s Luke Cage and Finn Jones' Danny Rand. Theories have been rife regardingJessica Jones, Luke Cage and Danny Rand’s returns to the MCUafter Charlie Cox reprised his role inSpider-Man: No Way Home, but Marvel hasn’t yet confirmed when or if this could happen.Bringing these iconic Marvel heroes back into live-action would be the perfect way to wrap up unanswered questions from the Defenders Saga.
Daredevil: Born Againmight be setting up the perfect excuse to bring these heroes back into the MCU, asWilson Fisk being elected as Mayor of New York City teases an adaptation of Marvel Comics’Devil’s Reignstoryline. This sawMayor Fisk outlaw vigilantism in New York, which impacts every street-level hero, so it would be great to see Daredevil join forces with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and more to explore this story inDaredevil: Born Again. We’d love to see any number of these much-missed Defenders Saga characters return.
