Original Daredevil showrunner Steven DeKnight calls out ‘Disney scam’ ahead of series reboot

A showrunner who worked on the first season of the Marvel series Daredevil has called out Disney for using tricky tactics.

Daredevil star Charlie Cox.

A showrunner and executive producer who worked on the first season of the Marvel TV series Daredevil has called out Disney for seemingly using a tricky tactic to bring the series back.

Steven DeKnight took to social media to criticise Disney for the upcoming reboot, accusing the company of using an “old Disney scam” to rebrand the series in order to avoid paying residuals to the original creatives, like himself.

“It’s an old Disney scam where they slightly rename a series to reset contract terms back to first season,” DeKnight tweeted.

“Needs to be addressed by all the guilds/unions and crushed!”

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

Charlie Cox stars in the original Daredevil series on Netflix from 2015 to 2018.

Indeed, Disney has given the reboot a new title, Daredevil: Born Again, meaning contractually it is not a continuation of the original series.

Disney has rebranded the series Daredevil: Born Again.

DeKnight says this is a deceptive way of keeping costs down, as the cast and crew are typically entitled to significant payrises as a show progresses.

But by calling it a new series despite having the same characters, Disney can avoid increasing pay packets as fresh contract terms mean lower salaries.

Showrunner and executive producer Steven DeKnight attends the Marvel's Daredevil premiere in 2015. Picture: Angela Weiss/Getty Images

Steven DeKnight with the show’s star Charlie Cox, who will return in the reboot. Picture: D Dipasupil/Getty Images

“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 explained in his tweet.

“You know, with the exact same two lead actors (who I love!) playing Daredevil and Fisk.”

Oh it’s a sure thing. 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. You know, with the exact same two lead actors (who I love!) playing Daredevil and Fisk. https://t.co/hEKxwgbocz

— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 19, 2023

To be clear, I can’t wait to see Charlie Cox and the amazing @vincentdonofrio reprise their iconic rolls. But 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. https://t.co/jYVZx6L1pA

— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 19, 2023

DeKnight said he still wishes the reboot every success, even though he doesn’t agree with Disney’s business “shenanigans”.

“To be clear, I can’t wait to see Charlie Cox and the amazing Cincent D’Onofrio reprise their iconic roles,” he wrote in a follow-up tweet.

“But 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.”

Technically, the reboot would be Season 4 of the Netflix series as it ran on the platform for three seasons from 2015 to 2018.

Daredevil: Born Again was set to premiere on Disney+ in 2024, but production was paused in May amid the writers’ strike and has remained further out of production when the actors’ strike began in July.

Originally published as Original Daredevil showrunner Steven DeKnight calls out ‘Disney scam’ ahead of series reboot