Roxy Cinemas at Boxpark was bathed in crimson hues on Tuesday night, heralding the long-awaited return of one of Marvel’s most-loved icons. Six years after his last appearance in 2018, Daredevil is clawing his way back into the spotlight with Daredevil: Born Again — a gritty reboot poised to become Disney+’s hottest upcoming series.
Leading up to Daredevil: Born Again’s high profile launch, Disney+ held a premiere event on February 25, treating select fans in the MENA region to an exclusive sneak peek of the vigilante’s next chapter. Trust us on this — Born Again is one you won’t want to miss.
But the event wasn’t just a simple screening of the first two episodes (although that would’ve been plenty exciting on its own). Disney+ spared no effort to make the whole experience seem as though guests were transported to the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, New York, where the show is set. And that’s a tall order when we’re talking about an event held amid the glitz and glamour of one of Dubai’s trendiest areas.
The rattle of shaking spray paint cans filled the air whilst the crowd trickled in, as artists graffitied the two principal characters: Matt Murdock, the titular masked vigilante ‘Daredevil’ (Charlie Cox) and the foreboding ‘Kingpin’, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). Some guests even donned the iconic red shades the protagonist wears, and shared their anticipation and theories on how the screening of the pilot would go.
The entryway past the red carpet was fully decked out to look like the reception area at the Nelson & Murdock legal office in the show. Desks littered with documents and evidence folders, newspapers that detail in-universe events, and the framed plaque declaring the firm’s name made for a detailed recreation. This led into a speakeasy-esque gathering spot for conversation and photo ops alike, complete with framed stills from the show. The low-lit, grungy aesthetic made for the proverbial cherry on top to the Hell’s Kitchen immersion
Disney+ really did cater to every aspect of an ode to Manhattan (literally) as the trays passing around the room were filled with miniature versions of classic New York fare: hot dogs piled with relish and mustard, pepperoni pizzas, and cheeseburgers.
Daredevil: Born Again has already been greenlit for two nine-episode seasons with filming for the second season set to begin soon. The official trailer for the show also revealed an exciting appearance from Jon Bernthal as the Punisher in a nod to the original series.
Although we can’t reveal all the details about what went down in the two episodes screened, what we can tell you is that it’s definitely worth the week-long wait. Long-time fans of Daredevil will be pleased to note that the show’s reincarnation stays true to its dark and visceral Hell’s Kitchen roots.
Tune in to Disney+ next week on March 5 to watch the dual episode premiere of Daredevil: Born Again.