Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again Actually Addresses Thunderbolts (But Not How You Think)

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What really set the Marvel Cinematic Universe apart from other movie franchises was how all its films and shows were connected. Characters could unexpectedly appear in different movies—like Iron Man in The Incredible Hulk or Doctor Strange in Thor: Ragnarok—and storylines could continue across multiple films. As the MCU has grown, keeping this level of connection has become challenging for Marvel Studios, but it’s still something fans anticipate given the universe’s huge possibilities.

As a huge Marvel fan, one thing I’ve been really wondering about is how Daredevil: Born Again and Thunderbolts are going to connect. It seems pretty obvious they should, right? Both stories take place in New York City! Born Again even has the mayor declaring war on masked heroes, and Thunderbolts sets up the New Avengers base there – plus, there’s that villain turning people into shadows. It was strange that Thunderbolts didn’t mention anything happening in Born Again at first, but the second season of the Daredevil show on Disney+ actually started to tie things together, which is great to see!

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Addresses Marvel’s Thunderbolts Very Quickly

The second season of Daredevil: Born Again starts a few weeks after the first season ended. While a character could easily reference the events of the finale – like being trapped and diminished by The Void’s attack on New York City – the show avoids doing so directly. Instead, the connection to the past is more understated. The season opens with Mayor Fisk receiving an unexpected visit from the Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General, who are both angry about his task force targeting vigilantes and the illegal powers he’s assumed.

Just when the situation is at its most critical, Matthew Lillard’s character, Mr. Charles, unexpectedly enters the room. Someone from Fisk’s team immediately asks him to leave, assuming he doesn’t belong, even after he hints at having connections to the government. This is when it becomes obvious he’s linked to the Thunderbolts. As the Attorney General’s phone rings, Mr. Charles tells him to answer it. A short conversation follows, and the AG quickly changes his attitude, ending the call with a respectful, “Yes, Miss de Fontaine.”

Okay, so this moment flies by – it’s a quick line from a totally random character. Honestly, you could blink and miss it. But as a Marvel fan, I instantly recognized the name being dropped – it was clearly a call from Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina! Even though she doesn’t actually appear on screen, it instantly links the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series with the Thunderbolts movie. It’s a clever way to connect the stories, and it also really highlights this new character, Mr. Charles, making you instantly curious about who he is and what role he’ll play.

I have to say, Damian Lillard’s character in the new Marvel series was a total mystery going in, and honestly, he still is a bit of an enigma. It’s wild because he doesn’t seem to be based on any existing Marvel comic character, so no one really knew what to expect from him in Born Again. But then, a throwaway line from that AG character – who I’m guessing we won’t see again – hinted at something big. Apparently, Mr. Charles has some seriously powerful connections. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine herself is going to personally step in and make sure he gets what he needs – that’s a pretty huge deal!

This single line is surprisingly important, as it sets up what viewers can expect from Lillard’s character and also strengthens the links within the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, for the next six weeks of Daredevil: Born Again, fans will likely be puzzled why no one acknowledges the threat of The Void taking over the city – a question that won’t be answered until the Disney+ series addresses it directly.

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2026-03-28 18:14