Steven DeKnight, the showrunner of the first season of Netflix’s Daredevil, has labelled the upcoming reboot, Daredevil: Born Again, a “Disney scam” and said he would not “see a penny” from the reboot following Disney’s decision to rebrand the series (H/T NME). Disney+ launched in 2019, and one year earlier, Daredevil was axed on Netflix after three seasons, having started in 2015.
Subsequently, Disney+ launched Daredevil: Born Again. Charlie Cox will be reprising his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil, joined by Vincent D’Onofrio (Wilson Fisk/Kingpin) and John Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher. DeKnight replied to a message posted by a film grip with experience on Marvel shows for Netflix.
Known as Thomas, the grip said other employees on the reboot had had the terms of their contract altered to “season one IATSE contract” terms. The long and short of it means the staff will not receive vacation pay. Thomas asked if DeKnight was aware of this. His response…
“He does. It’s an old Disney scam where they slightly rename a series to reset contract terms back to first season. Needs to be addressed by all the guilds/unions and crushed!” DeKnight wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The showrunner popped up again with a handful of posts, revealing in one that he would not be paid by Disney for Daredevil: Born Again.
He does. It’s an old Disney scam where they slightly rename a series to reset contract terms back to first season. Needs to be addressed by all the guilds/unions and crushed! https://t.co/Ttj4A3tnE4
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 18, 2023
“From what I understand, I’m not going to see a penny from ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ because they added the ‘Born Again’ and can claim it’s a completely different show,” DeKnight said. “You know, with the exact same two lead actors (who I love!) playing Daredevil and Fisk.”
DeKnight said he had no qualms with the upcoming Daredevil series, which has no release date following a recent MCU reshuffle. He said he was excited “to see Charlie Cox and the amazing Vincent D’Onofrio reprise their iconic roles,” but argued that “to claim this is a complete reboot and you don’t have to pay the original creatives is some corporate shenanigans, to say the least.”
“Personally, I think the new Daredevil series is going to be great, and I can’t wait to see it. The new creative team has my full support. My issues with the Mouse hasn’t changed my excitement for Born Again one bit,” DeKnight later tweeted.
Personally, I think the new Daredevil series is going to be great, and I can’t wait to see it. The new creative team has my full support. My issues with the Mouse hasn’t changed my excitement for Born Again one bit. https://t.co/YXu8X4glJG
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 19, 2023
