Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 7’s Big Death Wasn’t the Original Plan (& Was Changed With CGI)

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Contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Fans of Daredevil: Born Again know the first season went through major changes. When production was halted due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, Marvel used the time to completely rework the series. The development of Season 2, however, was much more straightforward. While there were still some adjustments made, it didn’t require a large-scale overhaul. During the creation of the seventh episode, “The Hateful Darkness,” showrunner Dario Scardapane decided a crucial character needed a different outcome, ultimately leading to the death of Daniel Blake, played by Michael Gandolfini.

Arty Froushan, who plays Buck Cashman, recently told Variety that the original plan for the show was for Daniel to survive his confrontation with Buck. According to Froushan, Buck would have then had to deal with Fisk, but he would have lied to Fisk, claiming he was the one who killed Daniel, even though that wasn’t true. Writer Scardapane added that if Daniel had lived, he would have continued his political career, with the temporary new mayor refusing to accept his resignation.

Scardapane explained that the original storyline wasn’t very compelling, so he decided to make some changes. He remembered telling James Gandolfini the news, and Gandolfini immediately understood and agreed it was the right decision. Gandolfini felt his character wouldn’t be able to leave the apartment. Scardapane noted that scenes filmed after this decision felt like they were telling the wrong story, and he believes everyone loved Gandolfini so much they struggled with the idea of his character dying. Ultimately, the visual effects team added a gunshot to the scene after Scardapane finalized the change.

Daredevil: Born Again Killing Daniel Blake Was the Right Call

It was likely a difficult decision for the showrunners to eliminate Daniel’s character. Not only was the team fond of the actor, but Daniel had become a significant part of the Daredevil: Born Again storyline. Some believed Marvel was positioning him as a potential successor to Wilson Fisk. However, the creative team ultimately felt it was better for Daniel’s arc to conclude at this point, and everyone involved seems to support that decision.

While it would have been wonderful to see more of Gandolfini’s character, Daniel, his death in “The Hateful Darkness” feels more logical now. Although Daniel and Buck became closer this season, they weren’t true friends. Buck primarily wanted to control Daniel and have something to hold over him if he ever disobeyed. Considering Daniel betrayed the Fisk organization, it’s believable that Buck wouldn’t let him live. Buck was likely upset about having to kill Daniel, but ultimately, he prioritized completing his assignment.

Daniel’s death resonates deeply with the show’s central themes. Earlier in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, we learned that Wilson Fisk’s biggest fear is having no one to continue his criminal empire. Daniel seemed like the perfect heir, but his actions in “The Hateful Darkness” showed he wasn’t capable of the same brutality as Kingpin. He couldn’t bring himself to harm BB Urich, someone he cared about, and instead sacrificed himself to save her. This act was Daniel’s rejection of Fisk’s life, mirroring a key moment from the original Netflix series where Kingpin killed BB’s uncle, Ben Urich. Their relationship always provided a compelling comparison to that tragic event.

Daniel was a fascinating character because he was unpredictable – he could have easily become a major villain or remained a good person. While his dedication to Fisk and the mayor suggested he had the potential to become the next Kingpin, his relationship with BB reminded him of his own morality. Ultimately, he made a clear choice, and his story had reached a natural conclusion. The writers wisely decided not to risk giving the actor, Gandolfini, weak storylines, and instead ended Daniel’s arc in a satisfying way.

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2026-04-29 19:44