Summary
Daredevil: Born Againhas been promised by Marvel executives and cast members to be a darker, more brutal approach than previous Disney+ shows. While a dark tone is nothing new to fans of Daredevil’s previous Netflix series, the immense brutality of the upcoming installation promises to upscale the violence, and this can be credited to one particularly chilling villain: Muse.
Charlie Cox’s Daredevil (Matt Murdock) has been battling villains and stealing hearts since his 2015 debut in Netflix’sDaredevil. Its TV-MA (Matured Audience only) rating and a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score proved successful enough to spawn spin-offs and a rebirth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the form ofDaredevil: Born Againafter three seasons. Seven major characters with their cast return andMatt Murdock tackles his rich library of villains, including Kingpin, Bullseye, The Punisher, and Muse.
Muse Will Push Daredevil to His Limits
Muse is set to be one of the most disturbing villains ever to appear on-screen, pushing Matt Murdock to his breaking point both physically and emotionally. Known for his menacing presence in the comics, Muse’s brand of “creepy” inDaredevil: Born Againpromises to be even more terrifying and will scare “the living crap” out of both Matt and viewers,according to Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus. Apart from describing him as a guy with zero likable qualities, Perez confirmed that Muse will retain his comic book powers, which include superhuman strength and imperceptibility, rather than be reduced to a grounded and realistic killer—a question that had long been in the mouth of many.
“Muse is part of the reason why this show is going to be TV-MA. He is going to be one of these villains that will send chills down your spine. There isn’t going to be a single redeeming quality about this guy, and it will scare the living crap out of everyone, even Matt. But even more so, it’s a character that pushes both Matt and Fisk beyond their limits, especially with Matt. Matt’s never killed anyone intentionally in his show, and with everything that happens in this show, and what Matt is forced to live through, you get the feeling that he’s had enough and has to take matters into his own hands by any means necessary.”
Anyone versed with Muse’s comic book origins won’t be shocked by his upcoming portrayal. The serial killer with a penchant for turning his victims’ bodies into art debuted in Charles Soule’s 2016 comicDaredevil #11.His superpowers and “artistic skill” present a new level of threat to Daredevil, who has mostly handled human criminals. Since the trailer suggests that the show might adapt the Devil’s storyline—which would see Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) assume duty as mayor of New York—and a previous revelation thatMurdock and Kingpin wouldn’t physically clash muchin the show, it only makes sense that the task falls to one of the latter’s deadliest arms: Muse. Moreover, the character’s action might offset the disappointment fans are likely to carry due to a lack of ample Daredevil and Kingpin ass-kicking.
From the first official look at Muse inDaredevil: Born Again,it might be safe to bet that the series will offer much-needed horror themes to the MCU unlike anything before it. It could rivalAgatha All Along’s Halloween vibe by giving fans the gore and gritty similar toEcho. Marvel Studios' Brad Winderbaum’sGame of Thronescomparison—in both violence and politicking—couldn’t have done a better job dilutingfans' skepticism of an ultra-brutal Daredevil show. If the series makes good on its promise and comparisons, Colin Farrell’s Penguin might not be the only one gunning for the title of most unforgettable live-action comic book villain of 2024.
