The MCU just introduced the Marvel villain who will absolutely help Daredevil: Born Again earn its TV-MA rating. Continuing after the events of the original Netflix series as well as Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin's subsequent MCU appearances, Born Again is set to bring Matt Murdock's story back to the forefront, operating as a lawyer by day and a New York vigilante by night. However, the show has also been confirmed to include none other than the incredibly dangerous Daredevil villain from the comics known as Muse.
Custom Image by Kevin Erdmann
Daredevil: Born Again is expected to largely be focused on the mayoral campaign of Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'onofrio), one that would no doubt give him an impressive level of control of the city of New York. As such, it will be interesting to see how Daredevil responds, both as Matt Murdock and as a vigilante. However, the debut of Muse may be a threat that may temporarily unite both Murdock and Fisk, while also guaranteeing the need for Daredevil: Born Again's more mature rating than most MCU projects.
Muse's Daredevil: Born Again Story Is Sure To Cement The Show's TV-MA Rating
A Gruesome Artist Who Paints With The Blood of His Victims
Muse debuted in Daredevil comics as a disturbing graffiti artist, using the blood and body parts of several victims he'd kidnapped to create dark murals. Possessing enhanced strength and speed, Muse's body also acts like a vortex that pulls in all the sensory information around him, making it incredibly hard for Daredevil to pinpoint him. Muse eventually becomes inspired by Daredevil and other vigilantes in the face of Fisk's election and his anti-vigilante policies, motivating another horrific mural in support of The Punisher. Frank Castle then gets blamed for the art by Fisk who uses the art to rally more support.
Keeping his comic exploits in mind, it does seem as though Muse will follow a similar trajectory in the MCU. As seen in the exclusive D23 footage for Daredevil: Born Again, it's confirmed that people in New York have been going missing, and there are also murals of both Daredevil and Fisk himself. Combined with the confirmed appearance of Jon Bernthal's Punisher, it does seem like Muse's dark murals will indeed be featured amid Fisk's mayoral campaign, no doubt cementing the show's confirmed TV-MA rating.
Why Daredevil: Born Again Needed A More Adult Story & Rating To Truly Work
Honoring The Original Netflix Daredevil Series And Its Characters
With or without the inclusion of Muse, Daredevil: Born Again was always going to need its mature rating to be a success. Having darker and more adult themes is what's going to help the new MCU series match the original Daredevil series from Netflix, while also ensuring that depictions of characters like Punisher and Kingpin remain accurate not only to those from the previous show, but also to their original Marvel Comics depictions as well. The TV-MA rating will allow Marvel Studios to maintain the established characterization of the show's cast without having to shy away from any core details or aspects.
