Daredevil: Born Again looks to be the start of a new era for the MCU. But as the fanbase grows, this series could bring back mature Marvel shows.
When Iron Man hit theaters in 2008, it was hard to predict just how much of a phenomenon the Marvel Cinematic Universe would turn into. That said, there’s no denying that the growth was well-earned, and the characters and stories born from that film have defined a generation. But as the franchise has continued, things have changed. As a result, audiences have evolved, and tones have shifted and branched out in multiple directions. With such a change, there’s also an inherent risk.
Part of the benefits of the changing landscape has been new content that’s reeled in fans that may not have expected to enjoy superhero content at all. But seasoned fans have also seen the return of heroes they thought would never return. The best example of this has been the world of Daredevil, following the show’s cancellation on Netflix. But with Daredevil: Born Again announced as his new series, it could mean the rebirth of more mature MCU content that’s both welcomed and necessary.
The MCU Fanbase Has Gained A Wide Audience
Iron Man marked the start of an era where many of its fans may have been kids at the time, growing with the franchise in the past decade. That said, many of these fans have now become adults and even started their own families. Because of this, having content as mature as the initial audiences that watched the films would be a poor strategy as it would lose younger fans. As a result, Phase 4 shows like Ms. Marvel and even episodes of What If…? have been tailored to younger audiences and showed that while many of these stories are serious in nature, there’s room for more light-hearted content.
Phase 4 has shown this direction in full swing, which, among other reasons, has placed the phase under criticism as the stories don’t always feel as they used to in tone. Furthermore, tons of new content have been released that expands to all genres and directions. But for those older fans that may not be on board with the less serious content, Daredevil: Born Again could represent a shift that proves Marvel Studios can appeal to younger and older audiences.
Daredevil: Born Again Could Reignite Mature Marvel Shows
Werewolf By Night was proof that Marvel studios could create fun content that’s inherently more mature and violent than the usual fare. But Daredevil: Born Again could be the show that takes violence and mature themes to create a series that’s a drama first and a superhero show second. Much like the Netflix series that came before it, Daredevil: Born Again has the potential to show that being a hero isn’t always fun and exciting, with a brutal reality designed to make Matt Murdock struggle. But like his fellow Netflix shows, this could be the beginning of a renaissance that could bring back the older fans that may not enjoy the more colorful MCU content of Phase 4.
With characters like Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Moon Knight and The Punisher that still have stories to tell, it’s easy to create a world of mature Marvel content designed for older fans. While it’s fun to watch the light-hearted shows and films that have released, vigilantes have always been the perfect template for more dramatic stories that bring the humanity out of the superhumans. Now, as longtime Marvel fans get older, Daredevil: Born Again could offer equally serious shows without compromising the more fun content that has and will be released.
