During the panel there were some very interesting questions asked. Some of the questions had to deal with the upcoming THE DEFENDERS series and DAREDEVIL Season 3, while others were to get a better idea of whom these actors really are. Unfortunately, none of the cast has seen a script for either THE DEFENDERS series or DAREDEVIL Season 3. As Woll put it, “This is a really good time to do a con because we don’t know any more information than you do so we can’t screw ourselves over.”
About Matt Murdock and Karen Page
However, they did provide insightful thoughts about where they thought their characters are going to go and where they want them to go. For example, when Woll was asked about what Karen will do with Matt’s Daredevil secret she couldn’t tell us, but told the audience what she wanted to happen. Deborah explains that she hopes, down the line, it will lead Karen to revealing some of her own secrets.
Karen does have a mysterious past and Woll says, “It’s a big deal for him to tell her that he is Daredevil but it is also a big deal for her to tell him, 'Yeah, I killed a guy.'"
Cox and Woll, then, talked about how it was discussed if Matt should use his cane in last scene of Season 2 since that's just another lie he is telling Karen. They ultimately decided against it because Matt folds up his cane before walking in the door to meet Karen. He then drops his cane on a chair in front of her. Deborah hopes it's a turning point for the two characters so Matt and Karen can be really honest with each other in the future.
I think that is was a great choice for Matt to fold up his cane and not use it in the final scene of Season 2. It showed he had obvious intentions of telling Karen everything. I also think it softened the blow when he was telling her because if he used the cane during that scene, it would just feel like another lie and you wouldn’t get the feeling he's being completely honest with her.
While we are on the topic of Matt and Karen, another question asked was if those two characters would end up with each other. Woll explained she tries not to think about who her character will end up with. She says she doesn’t think about that with any of her roles. Woll went on to explain how she believes they are two very different people and while she thinks it was a very interesting question, she ultimately says, “I don’t know if I ever think about that to be honest, sorry.”
DAREDEVIL Season 3 Cast Predictions
The next question asked was what the cast predicted for Season 3. Cox had a very interesting answer. He went on to explain, “When we get to the end of Season 2 he [Matt] kinda fails. Nothing really works out in the end and that is one of the things that I love that the writers did with that season because it is nice to see and it is important to see failures as well as the successes. I think that one of the reasons that that has to happen is because going into THE DEFENDERS, Matt is gonna have to learn that he needs help, that he can’t do this all alone and that significant teamwork is going to be beneficent. So whatever lessons he learns in THE DEFENDERS will then play into I think Season 3 and how he goes forward from there, if that makes sense.”
Cox's answer makes a lot of sense because THE DEFENDERS will not be a mini-series. It may be a little short than a full 13-episode Netflix season, but there's a lot of room for character development in just a few episodes. With the Netflix series being so closely knit together, it would only make sense for these characters to learn from the events of THE DEFENDERS and it will affect them in some way or another the next time they appear in either their own show or in another hero's show.
Claire Temple, the Connective Netflix Series Thread
A question asked to Dawson, who plays Claire Temple, was if she knew ahead of time how her character would be a thread though all the Netflix shows. Dawson explained she did not know when she initially signed on, but she thinks the role is awesome. She says she signs on every year but they don’t tell her for what show and she only signs on for certain episodes.
Dawson said, “They don’t tell me which shows, so I have no idea I’m just sorta working and have this question mark for the entire year; just when are they gonna call me and for what and how is it gonna show up. That’s what happened the second season [of DAREDEVIL] when I came on, they didn’t send me any of the previous episodes so I suddenly just came in the middle of all this insanity and they were like, 'You'll watch it at the premiere like the rest of us.'"
It is pretty cool that she signs on for individual episodes because it allows for her character to be very flexible in what show she will appear in next. Personally, I love Claire and how she is the glue that holds the Netflix series together. Not only is she holding this world together, but I think she will be the one to bring all of our Netflix heroes together to fight in THE DEFENDERS. When Claire was treating the victims of the Hand, Matt explained what is going on to her. Claire has a lot of knowledge of what's going on in Daredevil’s world and she's someone Matt can trust and come to with his problems. I think when Matt’s problems start to become bigger than him, she will guide him to bring together THE DEFENDERS. Ultimately, Claire works so well in JESSICA JONES, DAREDEVIL and I have complete confidence she will do amazing in LUKE CAGE. It was very smart to contract her for episodes rather than seasons so she can bring this Netflix world together.
Will Daredevil's Comic Book Arc 'Born Again' Have Any Influence Soon?
During the panel a fan asked if the writers were leading up to the Daredevil comic book story arc 'BORN AGAIN.' In this famous storyline, written by Frank Miller, Karen Page is a drug addict and sells information that Matt Murdock is Daredevil, all for heroin. Eventually, the Kingpin finds this out and uses this info to frame Matt for paying witnesses. This leads to Matt’s accounts being frozen and the bank foreclosing his apartment. The Kingpin also sets his apartment on fire leaving his costume in the wreck. The Kingpin, then, slowly starts to drive Matt insane by having him constantly following and toying with him. This leads to Daredevil confronting Kingpin, but he loses. Matt barely escapes with his life and Kingpin continues to try to kill him. He sends super-solider Nuke (who is Will Simpson as seen in JESSICA JONES), which catches the attention of Captain America. Cap defeats Nuke and eventually follows the clues back to the Kingpin. This results in the media learning the truth about Wilson Fisk; ultimately ruining his name.
In a response to the 'Born Again' question, Cox states the story arc is one of his favorites. He proceeds to say, “My understanding is that the show never tries to imitate exactly a particular run or series because it is its own thing, you know, and as tragic as it was, killing Ben Urich was part of that idea. [The idea is] that this show is, you know, very close to the devil that we’ve come to know from the comics but it’s also, you know, no one should feel safe watching it because anything can happen.”
DAREDEVIL Issue No. 184 Homage Moment in Season 2
Cox tells a story about one of his favorite moments in Season 2, which took place in Episode 3 during the stairwell fight scene. He says, “I got the gun strapped to my hand and then there is what we call a rack focus from my gun to my face and I smile; it's basically the cover of 'No More Mr. Nice Guy (Daredevil Vol. 1, Issue No. 184).' I love it when we reference a comic like that because the image is so iconic and we get to have it in the show. You know some people pick up on it and a lot of people don’t so anything that we do like that you get to go on an Easter egg hunt.”
Charlie Cox Hopes Daredevil Will Mentor Iron Fist in THE DEFENDERS
Up next was a question about THE DEFENDERS and if Cox thinks Daredevil and Jessica Jones would get alone. He says, “I’m so intrigued to see what that interaction is going to be like. And I’m excited about the whole, all of their relationships but I think the Danny Rand and Matt Murdock is kinda, that makes more sense to me at this point. Like, I think that Matt, I, would kinda take him under his wing a little bit and you know, I love the age difference between them. Danny, I think, is 25 and Matt is in his 30s and of the four, the two have the most iconic costumes. I have no idea what’s going to happen but it’s kinda funny to me that among that group they do [make] the 'wear your own clothes thing' work! [Jessica and Matt] could love each other or they could hate each other. I have no idea, I’m very excited. I think Ritter is awesome so I can’t wait to work with her."
I thought that this was a great question and a great response from Cox. Think about this question... I can’t image what it will be like when Jessica and Matt meet because they are two very complex characters. I could see the two characters loving each other or hating each other depending on the time of day. Jessica and Matt’s interactions will definitely be one of the highlights of THE DEFENDERS. It was also nice to hear Cox's input on how he think he will relate with Iron Fist a.k.a. Danny Rand, especially since actor Finn Jones is both the youngest Defender and cast member.
"What Would You Do If You Found Our Your Best Friend Was a Super Hero?"
Woll said, “Well it depends on what they do. I mean like Daredevil beats people to a bloody pulp! Karen is super into that [and] she thinks it is really cool so I hope that will outweigh the anger.”
Dawson said, “I would be so excited. We could shop for costumes together! Should we get a bat phone type of situation? We could get a signal and make it our own thing!”
Obviously a little different responses, but it was still fun to hear what they had to say. The other cast members were too busy laughing at Dawson's answer to pitch-in.
Could Elodie Yung Kick Everyone's Ass in Real Life?
Signore moved on to the next question and asked Yung if it was true she had a black belt. It was in fact true, and she went on to explain what she loves most about her character is there is more to her than being skilled in the martial arts.
Signore, then, asked Yung if she could kick everyone’s ass in real life and she answers with, “Charlie trained hard so I think I might struggle a bit, but yes”, which the audience found very amusing.
Dawson, a New Yorker, Talks About How New York is on Display in the Netflix Series
One super fan had a great question to ask Dawson. The fan asked how she felt taking part of a production that shows the gritty underbelly part of New York rather than the glamorous part since Dawson grew up on the lower east side of New York.
Her response explained how New York is gentrified right now, “I actually grew up in very gritty New York so this is actually not very gritty New York. So they have to use a lot of filters to make it look like that because, I mean, Hell’s Kitchen doesn’t even really exist anymore. We shot a lot of JESSICA JONES and DAREDEVIL in the lower east side which is amazing and great, but I grew up there living in a squat with one working street lamp and no police ever came when you called them. It was a very different New York. You could see it sometimes but it is really hard to create now, so what I love about it is because these stories were written in that time and by bringing that feeling back to New York I think there’s a real connection to that. That’s what people think of New York when they go. I think they are very surprised or they’re happy because its nice to have safety; safety is a good thing! It’s a bit weird when girls are walking down the street at four-o’clock in the morning with like headphones in and are like 'I can’t find my keys!' and are like dropping their stuff on the floor. I’m like, 'target, TARGET!' I kinda wanna rob you on principal."
The audience laughs along with the cast and Dawson continues, “What I like about, especially DAREDEVIL, is that it is not necessarily super over. Like, there is definitely like muggings and things like that but it’s really talking about the stuff that happens behind doors that we don’t necessarily pay attention to. The people who we look up to and admire who are not necessarily heroes and kind of being a little more thoughtful and smart about it so it doesn’t look like sleazy New York. You don’t just get away with saying, 'Oh, its just a dangerous place.' It’s like, no it’s a great place, it is what you make of it. And I like that evolution of New York having that out there I think its cool.”
What Does Charlie Cox Really Fear?
Cox's response was “large mammals.” [Audience laughs.] Cox took a more serious route with the question and said, “You know, I guess the thing that, one of the things I’m afraid of, is you know going home at the end of the day when you had a job to do, when you are doing a day of filming, or had a important meeting, or audition, or you know a date with a friend, you know it doesn’t matter what it is. And you feel like you didn’t put your everything you had into it. You know you didn’t really give it your best shot. That feeling of, you know, I could have done better. I could have been more present or more available or more you know more service, whatever it is, that is a feeling I fear."
That was an incredible answer and it really shows how seriously Charlie takes the role of Matt Murdock, or any role he signs onto. It is really reassuring the entire cast take their jobs so seriously and are trying their absolute hardest to make a show that will be pleasing for fans and viewers who are just getting into the series.
Acting Blind Without Actually Being Blind
Many fans had questions for Charlie, but the rest of the audience didn’t seem to mind that because he is the lead actor and had many great responses. Another question asked by a fan was, “Is it difficult to play Matt Murdock since he is blind but at the same time can see in his own way?”
Cox explained how he has to change how he acts when he's around certain characters. For example, when Matt is around Foggy or Elektra, Cox makes sure to not act blind, but still not keep eye contact. He will find things quickly, not use his cane and walk very confidently. However, when Matt is around people like Karen, he has to do the exact opposite. The actor said how tricky it is for him when they are filming a season.
DAREDEVIL Cast Thoughts on the 2003 Movie
Dawson said that she watched the Ben Affleck movie and it made her feel the pressure of getting the adaptation right this time. However, that pressure soon went away because she said she read the script and it was amazing. She also respects how the show isn’t about being better; it is about being its own thing.
Cox said he didn’t know what Daredevil was when he auditioned, so he said the previous movie didn’t affect him. However, he watched the movie after he got the part. He explained how he thought Affleck did a great job and it was fun to watch, but he also thought the movie had some bumps. He told a story about how his friend told him not to worry because 'the bar is low!' The entire cast agreed that the bar is quite the opposite now.
What MCU Heroes Does the Cast Want to Show Up in DAREDEVIL?
Woll says, “The Hulk because it would be the most bizarre. Because our world is such like really realism and a little bit of magic and then there is a giant green beast that destroys everyone.”
Cox adds, “So he needs legal assistance?” [Crowd laughs.]
Then, Dawson starts singing the Spider-Man theme song, “I can see like, [talking to Charlie] you are leaping from one building to the next and then Spider-Man is like zipping the other way and you guys are like, “EYH!”
Dawson, then, pitches an interesting thought, “I kinda wanna like, patch up Nick Fury. Just because Claire is like Nick Fury of our little world, you know just jumping around and that would be kinda fun. Be like, 'I gotchu.' They [the Avengers] need you, just like these guys need me. You gotta stick around or it all falls apart.”
Any Ghost Rider Jealousy Since He'll be in AGENTS OF SHIELD Season 4?
Dawson gave a very satisfying answer, “We got the Punisher, I’m not worried about it... But I would love to see those two [Ghost Rider and Punisher] face-off, that would be dope.”
The panel wrapped up with the cast gathered for a group photo with Signore.
Overall, the panel was a lot of fun. We got some insight on DAREDEVIL Season 3 as well as for THE DEFENDERS. We also got a lot of answers to great questions about the cast, the characters, and just life in general. One thing is for sure, we will all be watching when Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Daredevil and Iron Fist join forces to fight against evil in THE DEFENDERS coming to Netflix in late 2017.
Written and photos by James Philbrick
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