Thunderbolts’ Big MCU Continuity Conflict With Daredevil Finally Gets Addressed

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In a recent statement, director Jake Schreier clarifies the apparent inconsistency between “Thunderbolts” and “Daredevil: Born Again” for fans who noticed it. In the Disney+ series, Wilson Fisk assumes the mayoral position in New York City, enforces a ban on vigilantism, and establishes martial law to capture costumed heroes. This was a major shift within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but “Thunderbolts” doesn’t acknowledge these events as it focuses on the team battling the Void in New York City instead. Some viewers found it puzzling that “Thunderbolts” didn’t reference the happenings of “Daredevil,” but Schreier believes it was essential to maintain the narrative flow for the “Thunderbolts” storyline.

In an interview with ComicBookMovie, Schreier mentioned, “We were certainly conscious of this element. However, our film is quite confined, set over just a few days, which gives the threat [from The Void] and the problem an urgency. That’s why we crafted a narrative where these specific adversaries, the Thunderbolts, are ideally suited for the situation because it revolves around shared objectives or empathy for the character’s predicament.

He added, “To be clear, nobody else could have pulled off what happened in such a unique, fleeting instance. Given how quickly it unfolded, discussions about martial law or other related topics became irrelevant within the span of an afternoon. Consequently, we chose to avoid delving into those matters so that each story could maintain its own distinct course without seeming intertwined.

Immediately following the release of Thunderbolts, screenwriter Eric Pearson shared his perspective on why New York-based superheroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Doctor Strange didn’t intervene during the Void’s conquest of New York City. He attributed it to the idea that time behaves differently within the Void, explaining, “I believe that the events were unfolding at a pace much quicker than one would anticipate.” Essentially, this suggests that the situation was already resolved before Spider-Man or another hero could have arrived.

Indeed, at the conclusion of the film “Thunderbolts”, the main team is no longer a band of vigilantes. Instead, they’ve been officially recognized by the government as the New Avengers and have been actively functioning for months before encountering the Fantastic Four, as hinted in the post-credits scene of the movie. The movie’s stinger does not mention Fisk or his thoughts regarding Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s assembly of superheroes.

To ensure success in a shared cinematic universe, each project must find the ideal blend of linking to other productions while maintaining its own independent value. For instance, Thunderbolts* should primarily function as a standalone movie, and pace is crucial in achieving this goal. Interrupting an intense emotional scene featuring Yelena Belova and her team helping Bob conquer his dark side to explain Fisk’s actions or the absence of his task force would likely disrupt the flow of the film. As Schreier notes, the finale of Thunderbolts* occurs swiftly, making it more effective for the movie’s narrative to concentrate solely on Bob’s struggle, leading to a moving conclusion without distractions.

Marvel understands that the intricate MCU narrative has become somewhat like homework for viewers, with movies intertwining with TV series. To make things more accessible, they decided not to tie in “Born Again” from “Thunderbolts”, ensuring that those who haven’t watched “Daredevil” won’t feel lost during the movie experience. It remains to be seen how Marvel will develop Mayor Fisk in future projects, but it seems a wise decision for “Thunderbolts” to focus solely on its storyline without referencing him.

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2025-07-17 21:14