Theory: Spider-Man 3 Has Two Daredevils (Including A New MCU Version)

There could be two versions of Daredevil in Spider-Man 3. One iteration of the Man Without Fear, Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, will reportedly appear in the upcoming Phase 4 film. Cox previously portrayed the hero in his own show, which ran on Netflix for three seasons. He also starred as the character on Netflix’s team-up series, Defenders.

Despite being a successful series, Daredevil was cancelled after season 3, and at this point, all of Netflix’s Marvel shows have ended. This has cleared the path for Marvel to make Disney+ the only home for TV shows connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As for Matt Murdock, the terms of Marvel’s deal with Netflix prevented the studio from making any use of the character in any form for two years. Now that period has ended, thus putting the hero back on the table for future Marvel projects. For a while, fans wondered if they’d have to wait years for him to be used again, and if there was any chance of Charlie Cox donning the costume again.

Marvel hasn’t officially confirmed the reports, but it does appear that Cox may return as Daredevil in Spider-Man 3. If this happens, Matt Murdock would become the first character from Marvel’s Netflix shows to appear in the MCU proper. However, there’s a possibility that even if this news is true, Marvel’s plan isn’t to make Charlie Cox the MCU’s new Daredevil. Here’s why a second version of the hero could be hidden in the film, and what he could mean for the MCU and its future.

Why Charlie Cox's Daredevil May Be From The Multiverse

Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock Daredevil Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange Tom Holland as Peter Parker Spider-Man MCU

Other news related to Spider-Man 3 hints at how Charlie Cox’s Daredevil may be utilized in the movie. The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Electro (Jamie Foxx), Spider-Man 2’s Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), and more are expected to return. Former Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are among those heavily rumored to be reprising their respective roles. These reports, coupled with the confirmation from Marvel that Spider-Man 3 will include Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange and deal with the multiverse implies that Sam Raimi’s trilogy and The Amazing Spider-Man movies will be pulled into MCU canon. It’s the concept of the multiverse that makes this possible. It can be revealed that the characters from these franchises can exist in realities separate from the MCU.

If that’s what Marvel is doing with multiple Spider-Man characters, that may also explain its Daredevil plan. If several heroes and villains are crossing over from the multiverse, Charlie Cox’s Man Without Fear could be one of them. If that is indeed the case, it would be a reveal of huge importance to the MCU. First of all, it would answer big questions that have gone unanswered for years about Netflix’s Marvel heroes. Though it was said that their shows are set in the MCU, this relationship has never been represented in the movies, leaving many to wonder if they really do share the same reality as the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and all the rest. Marvel can clear this up by confirming that the world of Marvel’s Netflix shows does exist in a separate world. Such a decision would help Marvel avoid any confusion if and when it decides to create new versions of characters like Iron Fist, Kingpin, and Luke Cage for its movies or Disney+ shows.

Why Charlie Cox May Not Be The MCU’s Daredevil

Daredevil shows up at a nightclub in Season 3

Fans of Daredevil’s Netflix show were understandably enthused when it was learned that its version of the character would finally appear on the big screen with other Marvel heroes. But, Charlie Cox being in Spider-Man 3 does not mean he’s the MCU’s Daredevil going forward. Once again, it should be noted that his role may not be unlike those of the Spider-Man characters in the film. The purpose of their inclusion could be to widen the scale of the movie, increase the size and scope of its world as a whole, and create connections to properties that were previously unconnected to the MCU. Plus, having them there can simply provide for some fun and unprecedented cross-overs.

Charlie Cox’s Daredevil in particular is someone that fans have become endeared to, and for this reason, there was a lot of disappointment surrounding his show’s sudden cancellation. Giving him a role in Spider-Man 3 can not only please those fans, but also deliver some long-awaited recognition of the Netflix shows. If that’s what Marvel’s intentions are, Spider-Man 3 may very well be the extent of its plan for the hero in the MCU. Rather than fixating on Cox’s character, Marvel may prefer to craft new Daredevil stories around a Matt Murdock who hasn’t already met Elektra, fought Kingpin, and experienced other iconic moments from the comics. Having Cox play both characters could be too confusing, so it may be better for a new actor to be cast for this role.

Spider-Man 3 Could Feature A Second Daredevil

A perfect opportunity for Marvel to introduce its own Daredevil will come in the same movie that it may use the Netflix incarnation of the character. If his Daredevil is from the multiverse, Spider-Man 3’s second Matt Murdock can hail from the MCU’s main reality. If he gets involved in the fighting, Cox’s character could end up getting most of the screen time, but the other Daredevil could still be allowed a cameo appearance at the very least. If the movie is too crowded to focus on two Men Without Fear, it would make sense for the second Daredevil to be used a bit less. A short scene in the movie, or perhaps a post-credits scene, could be all the MCU needs to reveal that there’s a different Matt Murdock in the MCU, operating as a criminal defense attorney and fighting crime as Daredevil in Hell’s Kitchen.

Daredevil’s MCU Future After Spider-Man 3

Daredevil swinging in comic book cover art

After Spider-Man 3, Marvel can use some of its future Marvel projects to flesh out the new Daredevil’s MCU story. Since She-Hulk will likely release in 2022 after Spider-Man 3, he could fit nicely into the Disney+ series as a guest star. With her being a prosecutor and Murdock being a defense attorney, it’s possible that Marvel could have Daredevil and She-Hulk go head-to-head in a courtroom battle. He could also work in Moon Knight, as both he and the Crescent Crusader are street-level heroes who live in dark and gritty worlds. Furthermore, he doesn’t have to be limited to other characters’ shows and movies. The Netflix series and his popularity in Marvel Comics prove that he can easily carry his own TV show, allowing him to receive his own MCU TV series in 2023 or later.

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