What should we expect from Daredevil season 4? The third season of Daredevil has now released on Netflix, and it’s getting rave reviews from fans and critics alike. It’s the culmination of the battle between Matt Murdock and the Kingpin, bringing an end to character arcs that have been building up since 2015.
The relationship between Marvel and Netflix does seem to be souring a little of late; the recent cancellation of Luke Cage is reportedly due to a disagreement between the two companies, who were unable to agree on the scripts, the show’s overall direction, or even the number of episodes. It’s generally believed that the partnership is becoming a little more fractious due to Disney’s plans to launch a rival streaming service next year.
But Daredevil is the trailblazer, so successful that it even led to the launch of a spinoff Punisher series starring Jon Bernthal. Should Netflix wish to continue it, what can we expect?
Daredevil Hasn’t Been Renewed For Season 4 (Yet)
Over the last fortnight, Netflix has cancelled both Iron Fist and Luke Cage. That’s led to some speculation that the streaming giant could pull the entire Marvel range, but there’s no evidence to indicate that. “Those shows are for us to cancel,” Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, recently observed, “and we’re super happy with their performance so far.” His statement certainly seems to imply Netflix believe they can make more Marvel shows. Given the popularity of Daredevil, it would be very surprising indeed to see Netflix pull the plug on a fourth season.
When Daredevil Season 4 Will Likely Release
When the partnership between Marvel and Netflix began, they released only two seasons a year. That’s increased markedly of late, though, with three shows dropping in 2017 and four this year. The recent cancellations, however, have dramatically reduced the size of Marvel’s Netflix slate. So it’s pretty difficult to evaluate the current state of play. If Marvel and Netflix still aim to release three or four shows in a 12-month period, then we should really expect Daredevil season 4 to be fast-tracked, releasing towards the end of next year. Alternatively, the reduced slate could mean they go back to their old pattern of two a year, in which case Daredevil season 4 would probably be released in early 2020.
Daredevil Season 4’s Story
There’s a sense in which season 3 brought Matt Murdock’s life full-circle; he’s once again part of a local law firm in Hell’s Kitchen, working with Foggy Nelson and Karen Page. But the dynamic is very different, with Karen as the firm’s investigator, and the three friends no longer have any secrets from one another. It seems safe to assume Daredevil season 4 will see the Man Without Fear confront threats who he feels he needs to keep to himself, though; Matt Murdock has never been good at trusting people, and besides, secrets are the driving force for drama in most Daredevil-esque TV shows.
We can safely presume that Wilson Bethel will return as Bullseye. Daredevil season 3 essentially served as the villain’s origin story, and in the comics Bullseye even underwent experimental surgery to restore his back. He had his broken bones and cartilage replaced with the unbreakable metal Adamantium, making him more dangerous than ever. Given Marvel will regain access to concepts like Adamantium as part of the Fox acquisition, due to be completed on January 1, 2019, that could well happen in Daredevil season 4.
Will Daredevil Appear in Other Series?
The Marvel Netflix shows have intertwined in the past, with Iron Fist making a notable cameo in Luke Cage season 2. That means there’s no practical reason why Matt Murdock couldn’t appear ahead of Daredevil season 4. It’s unlikely, however, if only because both Jessica Jones season 3 and The Punisher season 2 were in production at the same time as Daredevil season 3.
