#SaveDaredevil campaign has found new synergy as character rights return to Marvel Studios. Can 2020 finally be the year when ordinary men saved a superhero?
2020 has been an interesting year least to say. The spread of virus and isolation gave fans time to binge-watch their favourite characters on streaming platforms. The production shutdowns hurt Hollywood real bad and everything important has been delayed to now 2021. Nonetheless, we had our watch parties and virtual events to reduce superhero fatigue. But in the fandom communities, 2020 will be the year that brought to life the mythical Snyder Cut of the Justice League. Now towards the end of the year fans are petitioning once again to save Charlie Cox’s Daredevil (#SaveDaredevil) but will they succeed like the Snyder Cut movement?
The Inception of Fan Lead Movements
The 2017 theatrical cut of Justice League was a horrendous disaster on WB’s part. The studio took away director producer Zack Snyder’s vision and handed it over to Joss Whedon to give it a ‘lighter feel’ – the result an absolutely trashy movie that fans didn’t want to accept. This in turn gave birth to #ReleastTheSnyderCut movement.
Fans rallied and trolled the big-wigs of the studio on internet. On the second anniversary of the cut the leading cast of the movie Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and more came out in support of the movement. Meanwhile, director Zack Snyder kept filling in fans with his details of vision viz the black suit of superman, foreshadowing Darkseid, importance of Cyborg, on his social media platform Vero.
This kept the haters of then mythical cut at bay and fuelled fans with ‘what could be’ dreams. Together with support of fans and cast in May 2020, on the anniversary of Man Of Steel, the Snyder Cut was announced by the director during a quarantine watch party. Come August, we saw the first official teaser trailer of Zack Snyder’s Justice League for HBO Max Platform. This year on the third anniversary of JL the director gave a new black and white trailer to his fans who struggled for about three years to bring his vision to the big screen. The four-part series will grace WB’s streaming service on 5th September 2021.
The Snyder Cut movement proves that if enough people want it the studio eventually has to listen.
In a similar fashion, #SaveDaredevil movement came to be after Netflix cancelled Marvel’s Daredevil two years ago. The cast and fans both were shocked and Disney’s restructuring, focus on new streaming platform and Kevin Feige taking the control of Marvel TV characters was to be blamed.
Netflix’s Daredevil had a good three season-long run, it cast actor Charlie Cox as Man without Fear, Deborah Ann as Karen Page, Vincent D’Onofrio as antagonist Kingpin, Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, and more.
However, the real problem isn’t Marvel or Feige’s unwillingness to use the fan favourite character in the MCU but in the copyright issues. After the cancellation of the show Netflix still held the Daredevil rights for two more years.
The deal ended on Sunday November 29, 2020. Daredevil is finally home to Marvel Studios! This has fuelled the fire for fans to reinvigorate #SaveDaredevil movement. The hashtag trended all day long on Twitter.
The Possibility Of Charlie Cox’s MCU Debut
With a ready fan base of the character coupled with amazing performance of Cox as Daredevil and Marvel’s penchant for fan service. There should be no hesitation on studio’s part to debut the Vigilante from Hells Kitchen in the MCU.
Watch: SPIDER-MAN DAREDEVIL MCU TEAM-UP REVEALED
The past few months have been buzzing with rumours of Cox appearing in the upcoming Spider-Man 3 to defend Peter Parker (Tom Holland). However, Cox denied any involvement in the Marvel production. Nevertheless, in past few days again the scoops of Charlie Cox being in ‘talks’ with Marvel Studio about the Daredevil are making headlines.
Notable Marvel scooper and industry insider Charles Murphy from Murphy’s Multiverse even came on to #SaveDaredevil podcast to share his thought on Daredevil’s MCU future. Furthermore, actor Vincent D’Onofrio lent his support to the movement.
Marvel Studios is already on a crossroad when it comes to make new actors MCU canon. After Disney’s acquisition of Fox studio and rights back from Netflix the studio has many fan favourite characters to accommodate in its ultimate Avengers line up. Some characters are tough to recast like Wolverine when fans spent 17 years associating the character with Hugh Jackman. Nonetheless, previously Fox’s R-rated Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool – with Ryan Reynolds having a lot of creative control on the character and a loyal fan base – deals with the issue much like the Daredevil.
How to Introduce the Daredevil in the MCU?
The Man Without Fear can be introduced via the Multiverse and/or the original story can get a retcon. It is rumoured that Feige and Reynolds have come to common grounds with Deadpool 3 will be a retcon story. While the characters can be kept the effect of the past universe can be nullified by calling it an alternate universe.
There are many ways to Save Daredevil and its petition signed by an impressive 400,000 fans – they might actually end up saving it. And 2020 can finally be the year when ordinary men saved a superhero, fought for it…
