Summary
One thing that is up in the air now is theMCU’sfuture. While some fans have enjoyed the post-Endgameera of theMCU, others have struggled to immerse themselves in the new projects featuring new heroes. Yet for many, the promise of some famous heroes returning to the MCU showcases a fresh direction for the Marvel Universe, including the upcoming series,Daredevil: Born Again. With recent moves such as the return of fan-favorite characters from the Netflix original series and the tease of Wilson Fisk’s rise to power as NYC’s new mayor, the question has been asked: is theMCUadapting theDevil’s Reignstoryline?
The infamous story from 2021-2022 in Marvel Comics brought several of Marvel’s heroes together as Fisk’s passing of the Anti-Vigilante law made outlaws of everyone from the Avengers, Fantastic Four,Spider-Man, and more. Yet none were affected as much as Matt Murdock, who took his war with Fisk to new heights after suffering significant losses. So what happened in theDevil’s Reignstory, and will theMCUadapt this popular new story during the upcoming new Disney+ series?
Devil’s Reign, Explained
At the heart of theDevil’s Reignstoryline is a monumental clash betweenDaredeviland Wilson Fisk. Fisk, discovering he once knew Daredevil’s identity but had it erased from his memory, confronts the hero in a rage. This leads to Fisk outlawing vigilantes and forming Thunderbolt units to apprehend heroes like Moon Knight, Danny Rand, Reed Richards, and Sue Storm. The story takes a political turn when Luke Cage publicly opposes Fisk’s law and eventually runs against him for Mayor of New York City.
The story introduced the Stromwyn Twins, elite business leaders who want to use their wealth to fund a Fisk Presidential Race. Fisk, meanwhile, teams with Doctor Octopus to use Purple Man and his children’s gifts to sway the people of NYC to vote for Fisk and guarantee their control over the city indefinitely.Jessica Joneseventually discovers this, and the Avengers and other heroes launch an attack to stop Fisk, as Fisk discovers it was the Purple Man’s children who erased Daredevil’s identity from his mind.
This series has many plots, but ultimately, Fisk remembers Daredevil’s identity and takes out Matt’s twin brother, Mike Murdock, mistaking him for Matt. This causes the ultimate confrontation between Matt and Fisk, with Elektra being the only one to stop Matt from permanently taking out Fisk. This leads to Luke being elected Mayor, Fisk escaping NYC with his new wife, Mary (villain andmutantTyphoid Mary), and Daredevil joining Elektra in their final confrontation with The Hand.
How the MCU Has Set Up Devil’s Reign
Some elements may make an exact adaption impossible, from the only appearance of Doctor Octopus in theMCUbeing the return of Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock inNo Way Hometo the Purple Man’s demise in the first season ofJessica Jones. However, the introduction of the Purple Man’s children may be a suitable catalyst for the story and the officialMCUversion of Doc Ock. TheFantastic Fourwill get their film in theMCU, but not until after the release of the Daredevil series. The same can be said for theX-Men, leaving the option for some of Marvel’s mutants to appear less than likely.
Recent rumors and official castings may be the backbone of adapting this storyline. Fisk, Matt Murdock, and The Punisher have been confirmed for the upcomingDaredevil: Born Againseries. The recent seriesEchoended with Fisk looking ahead to the future to become the Mayor of NYC, and set photos from the Daredevil series prove this to be true. While the rumors of characters like Jessica Jones and Danny Rand appearing in futureMCUprojects cannot be substantiated at this point, characters who appeared in theDevil’s Reignstoryline, includingMoon Knightand She-Hulk, have already made theirMCUdebuts, allowing for this storyline to become the next major event in theMCUpossibly.
Is Devil’s Reign the Next MCU Event?
Yet despite the multitude of characters from the original comic storyline having a place in theMCU, what theMCUhas done with other iconic stories in the past, fromCivil WartoInfinity Gauntlet, proves that an exact adaption isn’t necessary; just the heart of what made those stories so unique. ForDevil’s Reign, the heart of the narrative is the battle betweenMatt Murdockand Wilson Fisk. The compelling nature of this adversarial relationship was the driving force that had so many fans eager for more in the original Netflix series. Fisk is the natural villain for the street-level heroes going forward in theMCU, and Vincent D’Enafrio’s performance makes his gravitas as a villain the perfect foil to the heroes of theMCU.
Whether theDaredevilseries sees a complete rendition of theDevil’s Reignstoryline or it carries over into projects likeSpider-Man 4or theThunderboltsfilm, this storyline feels like the next natural progression of the street-level heroes and villains being brought into theMCU. Charlie Cox could finally get the chance to lead the next group of heroes into the streets of NYC and against the Kingpin of Crime, setting the stage for a game-changing element going into the future of theMCU.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
