Daredevil: Born Again All But Confirms the MCU’s Kingpin Replacement (& It’s Much Needed)

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As the second season of Daredevil: Born Again progresses, the story is shifting, and several characters are facing dangerous new challenges. While Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) remain central to the conflict, other characters are being deeply affected and undergoing significant changes. Episode 6, “Requiem,” sees several supporting characters pulled into the aftermath of Vanessa Fisk’s death, and one character in particular reaches a critical turning point that hints at a possible new criminal mastermind emerging.

Look, I love Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, he is the character for me. But honestly, after seeing him nail that role for so long, I’m starting to think it might be cool to see a fresh face take a shot at it. Just a thought, you know?

Is Daredevil: Born Again Setting Up A New Kingpin of Crime For the MCU?

Michael Gandolfini is winning over viewers with his portrayal of Daniel Blake, a young man who quickly becomes a key figure in Wilson Fisk’s criminal organization. Initially portrayed as innocent and somewhat clueless, Daniel transforms throughout the second season, finding himself involved in serious crimes like concealing a murder alongside Fisk’s right-hand man, Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan). He’s forced to make critical, life-or-death choices regarding his friend, BB Urich (Genneya Walton), revealing a capacity for darkness. Both Fisk and Buck have noticed this potential, with Buck even suggesting to Dr. Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) that Daniel could be the Kingpin’s future successor.

The storyline involving Daniel seems to be building towards something major – could he eventually become the Kingpin’s successor? Episode 6 offers a strong hint. Around the 17:30 mark, Daniel is shown carefully considering his next move. Buck has tasked him with using his birthday dinner – where a young reporter will be present – to investigate whether she’s behind the negative press campaign against the Kingpin. As Daniel contemplates betraying her, the show cuts to Wilson Fisk in a strikingly similar pose, lost in thought. This editing choice strongly suggests Daniel will soon be making similarly ruthless decisions as a criminal leader, with this reporter potentially being the first step in his descent. Daniel does uncover her secret during the dinner, and the episode ends leaving viewers wondering if he’ll ultimately betray her to Buck, fully embracing a life of darkness.

Marvel Comics Have Already Set Precedence For Kingpin’s Successor

In the late 2010s, Marvel Comics created the character Byron “Butch” Pharris, a childhood friend presented as the magically created “twin” of Daredevil’s alter ego, Matt Murdock. Butch turned to a life of crime, initially working for one of Daredevil’s enemies, the Owl, before establishing himself as a crime boss in Hell’s Kitchen. He believes he is the illegitimate son of Wilson Fisk, and later legally changed his name to “Butch Fisk.” After helping Wilson Fisk escape from prison following his removal as mayor, Fisk officially named Butch as his successor and the new Kingpin, then left the city, leaving Butch in charge of the criminal underworld.

There’s growing evidence that the storyline for Daredevil: Born Again is mirroring the character arc of Daniel Blake, similar to how Butch Pharris’s story unfolded. Early spoilers for Season 3 suggest Michael Gandolfini is delivering a compelling performance, showing Daniel evolve from an ambitious newcomer into a potential successor to Kingpin if the latter loses control.

You can now watch Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+. Join the conversation about the newest episodes with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-25 21:12