Daredevil boss offers advice on Matthew Lillard fan theories: “That wasn’t on the page”

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Dario Scardapane, the showrunner for the ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ series, is suggesting fans shouldn’t expect a huge, immediate impact from Matthew Lillard joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The actor has been very busy recently, landing roles in several projects – including ‘The Life of Chuck,’ ‘Scream 7,’ ‘Cross,’ and the new ‘Carrie’ film – despite receiving public criticism from Quentin Tarantino.

He’s also joining the second season of Daredevil: Born Again as Mr. Charles, a character fans have been curious about due to the limited information released about him.

The mystery surrounding him has led to speculation that he might be a well-known comic book hero in disguise. However, the show’s lead writer, Scardapane, has confirmed that’s not the case in an interview with TopMob.

It’s pretty clear now: just appreciate the character for what it is. I created him specifically with Matt Lillard in mind. Let me be upfront: don’t expect this character to connect to the bigger Marvel Cinematic Universe, because that wasn’t the plan.

I was reading about the ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ situation, and Sana Amanat, one of the show’s producers, chimed in to say that just because someone isn’t directly involved doesn’t mean they’re completely cut off from the project. It’s a pretty subtle point, but she was definitely hinting that connections might still exist.

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Scardapane explained that this character is absolutely part of the bigger Marvel Cinematic Universe, but isn’t someone who’s been secretly introduced before.

It’s important to address this because fan speculation has often overshadowed previous Marvel projects. For example, the Disney+ series WandaVision was heavily affected by rumors about the introduction of certain characters like Mephisto or Reed Richards, ultimately distracting from the story.

Because the expected event didn’t happen, some viewers were disappointed, making it better to address these kinds of questions upfront rather than leave them hanging.

Kayvan Novak recently told MovieWeb he won’t be wearing a costume in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, putting an end to speculation that he might play a villain in a superhero outfit.

He explained that Scardapane created something he was passionate about, and he was thrilled to be involved. He particularly enjoyed the world Scardapane built, feeling it was a perfect match for his acting style.

Damian Lillard and Jordana Scardapane have been friends for over ten years. They first met while working together on the FX crime drama, The Bridge, which aired for two seasons from 2013 to 2014.

They’ve stayed connected since then, and one way they do that is by playing Dungeons & Dragons together, according to GamesRadar+.

Scardapane mentioned he’s fascinated by villains who appear ordinary, comparing Lillard’s upcoming role to George Clooney’s subtly menacing performance in the film Syriana.

Over the next few weeks, as Daredevil: Born Again continues on Disney+, we’ll find out more about Mr. Charles and the secrets he seems to be involved in.

Daredevil: Born Again is available to stream on Disney+. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.

Don’t miss Daredevil: Born Again! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive content, and more.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV and streaming dramas and comedies for TopMob. Before that, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He has a Journalism degree from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-03-20 16:35