Matthew Lillard is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe on March 24th, but not as a typical hero or villain. Instead of fighting alongside Daredevil or against Kingpin, the experienced actor will play a mysterious character who works behind the scenes, where the true power lies, in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again.
Matthew Lillard compares his Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 character to Cheshire Cat
Matthew Lillard described Mr. Charles as having a mysterious and playful energy, comparing him to the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The character of Mr. Charles is like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland – he seems to move effortlessly through the world of politics, never facing any real danger. In season two, Mayor Wilson Fisk is becoming increasingly controlling of New York City, arresting anyone who opposes him and imprisoning them. Daredevil steps up as a leader of the resistance, but Mr. Charles simply observes everything without showing much concern.
He has connections with influential people globally, so local New York politics don’t really concern him. He’s focused on the bigger picture – world affairs. Because of this, someone like Kingpin doesn’t intimidate him. That’s all I can reveal at this point.
Wilson Fisk has become a major player on the world stage. According to Marvel TV’s Brad Winderbaum, Fisk’s power now places him among influential international figures, and Mr. Charles, played by Giancarlo Esposito, represents the perspective of that powerful world. While Esposito doesn’t share any scenes with Charlie Cox as Daredevil, he enjoyed working with Vincent D’Onofrio, as the two actors previously collaborated on the 2000 film Spanish Judges.
Winderbaum explained that Charles doesn’t quite fit into serious, tightly-controlled environments, but Matthew Lillard’s energetic performance is a great match. He’s very enthusiastic about Lillard’s portrayal and believes audiences will enjoy it too.
Interestingly, Matthew Lillard was a Dungeon Master for a Dungeons & Dragons game that Dario Scardapane, the showrunner of Daredevil: Born Again, participated in for three years. Because of that shared creative experience, Scardapane ended up writing the role of Mr. Charles with Lillard in mind.
When Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 arrives, viewers will be introduced to a villain who enjoys chaos and destruction.
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2026-03-17 07:17