Daredevil has debuted in (or returned to) the Marvel Cinematic Universe as of Spider-Man: No Way Home. This moment in the MCU's development seems unreal as the limits to what constituted one continuous story fall away with each new installment. The Man Without Fear's triumphant reinstatement into the MCU canon potentially unleashes a chorus of characters residing in Hell's Kitchen.
Members of the Defenders, lone vigilantes, even ostensible sidekicks find depth on the streaming giant and set the bar high for what comes next regarding the alumni of Marvel Netflix. A few fresh starts will do some good, along with some faithful continuations, and the MCU will keep reinventing beloved characters much as they've done with the heroes & rogues featured in No Way Home.
9 The Punisher Needs To Try Something New
The Punisher, along with some heavy lifting from Daredevil, reinvigorated Frank Castle's fandom by zeroing in on the soldier beneath the skull. The character is a cautionary tale, reveling in the destruction of a system that has failed him. His personal vendettas add another layer of intrigue as the show's first season culminates in a suitably bloody conclusion.
However, the second season faltered by reusing old villains and indulging in filler dialogue that makes it a chore to get through. Jon Bernthal remains a stellar performer, though, and deserves to keep exploring new avenues with the role. This is exactly what the MCU needs to give him: new territory, especially considering the change required to transfer such a violent character to the family-friendly franchise.
8 Karen Page Became A Hero In Her Own Right
Karen initially seems the typical damsel-in-distress during her first appearance in season one of Daredevil. After her backstory is further revealed in season three, it becomes clear that she is a complicated and troubled character. She struggled with drug addiction, then is seemingly framed for murder yet she works her way up to being one of the most influential reporters in New York.
Karen is a testimony to the significance regular people still hold in superheroic fiction: one does not need enhanced abilities when pure will suffices. She proves instrumental in not only the lives, but the careers of her friends and several enhanced individuals – not to mention she's under the protection of the Punisher.
7 Jessica Jones Should Have A Major Presence In The MCU
Alias Investigations, much like the background easter eggs galore in No Way Home, should begin to have enormous ramifications in the MCU. The impact of the superheroic community will continue to draw scrutiny from governments and the powerful, potentially fueling Jessica's business.As the big screen calls for more exhilarating action, it may be time for Jessica to begin to embrace her powers.
Should the MCU iteration of Jessica be a variant, the creators may be inclined to place her in her costumed days and only provide hints as to the snarky detective she will become. This would grant the audience a new aspect of the character to enjoy and provide actress Krysten Ritter with a fresh take on Jones after she perfected her over three seasons.
6 Micro Left Too Early
The first season of The Punisher proves a gripping narrative built on the endurance of the human spirit through trauma, be it relationships or war. A vital part of that is David Lieberman/Micro, Frank's initial enemy turned sidekick in his war against the conspiracies that dog him. Lieberman is the emotional center of the plot due to the constant threat posed to his family as he helplessly watches from his surveillance cameras.
Viewers were left with more questions as the second season debuted: Micro had vanished, nowhere to be seen or hardly even mentioned at all. To have an essential part of Punisher lore disappear without explanation is unthinkable given Ebon Moss-Bachrach's endearing performance, and the character should certainly re-appear alongside the Castle in the MCU.
5 Luke Cage Could Use A Recasting
The MCU is not afraid to embrace the sillier aspects of the comics, be it the lighthearted humor or the occasional ridiculous costume. Marvel Netflix manages a shout-out to the titular character's classic ensemble in Luke Cage's first season, but given the character's inevitable retooling, it may be time to embrace the Power Man persona for the cinemas.
Mike Colter was likable enough as Luke, but his performance never really ascended beyond a cool monotone the majority of the time. Perhaps the only time the actor shines is in the big brother-type cadence he adapts when Danny Rand/Iron Fist shows up, which could mean one of two things: it's time for a Heroes for Hire team-up or a recasting in Harlem.
4 Iron Fist Definitely Needs A Recasting
Danny Rand serves as the other half of the aforementioned Heroes for Hire, alongside his mentor and partner Luke Cage. The creators of Iron Fist attempted to capitalize on the popularity of HBO's Game of Thrones by casting actor Finn Jones as the hero. Despite his best efforts, Jones' portrayal just didn't land with a lot of viewers. The actor began to settle into the role as he engaged more with Luke and Iron Fist course-corrected in its second season, but the opportunity to recast may just be too hard for Kevin Feige to pass up.
3 Claire Temple Should Stay Local But Prominent
A sleeper star of the Marvel Netflix series and the one thread seemingly tying it all together, Claire Temple began as a humble ear for Matt Murdock to iron out his demons with. She had run-ins with every vigilante hero of New York before they formed the Defenders and even periodically struck up romantic partnerships.
Rosario Dawson is a reliably compelling performer, turning a side character into a fully realized character with dimensions beyond getting the heroes ready for their next brawl. Bringing Claire back would demonstrate how much Marvel Studios respects the work put into the Netflix stories and the fandom born as a result.
2 Misty Knight Is Ready For Her Own Adventures
Actress Simone Missick gives viewers of Luke Cage a proxy protagonist in her Misty Knight, an honest NYPD officer tackling organized crime in Harlem. Armed with nothing more than her morals and will (and usually an issued firearm), Knight commands the screen opposite the reserved Cage.
With the actress' obvious skill at her craft, Misty isn't in need of a Daughters of the Dragon team-up to save audiences' empathy for her. She's proficient in investigating the dark corners of her city and is a fantastic candidate to receive a Disney+ spinoff. A fantastic reversal might be to introduce the MCU's Luke Cage on her show this time around.
1 Colleen Wing Proved More Invaluable Than Her Titular Hero
Much like Misty Knight, Jessica Henwick's Colleen Wing isn't in dire need of a team-up to revive her character. She's generally considered the highlight of the otherwise mediocre Iron Fist and Henwick's appearance in the upcoming The Matrix Resurrections will only strengthen her draw come Feige's knock on her door.
While maintaining great chemistry with Missick in their brief adventures together on screen, perhaps introducing both in their own series before leading to a Daughters of the Dragon film is the right way to go. As previously suggested for Luke Cage, the establishment of Iron Fist could come about on Wing's own Disney+ series before also leading to a Heroes for Hire film.