Daredevil season 3: Everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

The fate of Marvel's Man Without Fear was up in the air for a while there... but now it's official: Daredevil is coming back for season 3.

Here's all the essential info for our next trip to Hell's Kitchen. (We're still waiting on confirmation of a Stilt-Man guest stint)

Daredevil season 2 finale and The Defenders: Where did we leave things?

Here's what went down in season two's closer, 'A Cold Day in Hell's Kitchen' – broken down into bitesize nuggets:

• 'Blind' lawyer (read: visually impaired but super-powered ass-kicker) Matt Murdock makes a pact with his on/off lover Elektra to leave New York together.

• Alas, in a final bout with villainous ninja horde The Hand, Elektra was killed by their leader Nobu, devastating Matt.

• Daredevil defeats The Hand – with a little help from Frank Castle / The Punisher – while his old mentor Stick returns to finish off Nobu.

• Matt's pal Foggy Nelson accepts a job with Jeri Hogarth – one-time employer of Jessica Jones – dissolving the troubled Nelson and Murdock law firm.

• Matt revealed his superhero alter-ego to his other on/off lover Karen Page.

• Oh, and the surviving members of The Hand made off with Elektra's body.

DD returned in team-up series The Defenders, throughout the course of which Elektra was resurrected as The Hand's formidable tool, then (seemingly) killed off again.

Matt, like Elektra was buried under the collapsed Midland Circle building. He was presumed dead by Foggy and Karen, but somehow survived and is next seen recovering, a nun at his side.

"Get Maggie!" the nun orders. "Tell her he's awake."

Daredevil season 3: Will Matt Murdock be Born Again?

The Defenders' final scenes appeared to confirm that Matt Murdock's next adventure will be inspired by the acclaimed Born Again comic book arc, which was published back in 1986.

Maggie is the name of Matt's long-lost mother, and in the Born Again comics arc, she became a nun and nurses Matt back to health after he comes close to death. In January 2018, it was confirmed that Wolf Hall actress Joanne Whalley would be playing the role of Maggie on Daredevil.

Wilson Fisk also features heavily in the arc, even discovering Daredevil's true identity - a twist foreshadowed in Daredevil's second season, as a jailed Fisk re-examined the cut that an earlier clash with Murdock had left on his lip, seemingly remembered the same damage being inflicted upon him by Daredevil when he was arrested.

More spoilerific details on the original Born Again - and how it might lead to a Jessica Jones crossover - can be found here.

Daredevil season 3 release date: When it's coming to Netflix?

On July 22, 2016 – over four months since season two dropped – Marvel's head of TV Jeph Loeb officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 that Daredevil would return.

Though fans initially expected new episodes to land next year, Netflix boss Ted Sarandos later urged caution...

Marvel and Netflix have a full slate and with Iron Fist and team-up series The Defenders both dropping in 2017, it's looking like we'll have to wait till at least 2018 for more Daredevil. Ditto second seasons of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage.

Charlie Cox later confirmed that he'll be back shooting Daredevil in late 2017, which would seem to fit with this schedule, with a fan photo in November suggesting that filming had started in New York on season three.

Daredevil season 3 trailer: Is there a first look?

The announcement of a third season came with this first-look teaser. It gives away precious little, other than that Daredevil is still patrolling the streets of Hell's Kitchen... and his mood hasn't mellowed much.

A later teaser tackled the big Defenders cliffhanger with a flyer for Matt Murdock's funeral giving way to a caption that read: "I'm fine."

Daredevil season 3 cast: Who's coming back?

There's been no solid confirmation on the casting front, but series regulars Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock / Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page) and Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson) are – of course – dead certs.

It's unclear if Elodie Yung's Elektra will survive another near-death experience, but Vincent D'Onofrio's crime boss Wilson Fisk has been confirmed to be coming back.

Talking of Kingpin, it's also been revealed that Hart of Dixie star Wilson Bethel is joining the cast in a 'critical' role as an FBI agent who is heavily involved in the clash between Daredevil and Kingpin.

Then there's Rosario Dawson's helper of heroes Claire Temple, who's swiftly becoming the Netflix answer to Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury. She'll next be seen in season two of Luke Cage (and might pop up in the next Jessica Jones, too) but a reunion with Matt Murdock could also be on the cards.

The fate of Frank Castle is less certain – with Jon Bernthal's vigilante having used Daredevil as a launchpad for his own Netflix series, it's unclear if he'll also return to the mothership in 2018.

Related: Daredevil star Deborah Ann Woll really wants to explore Karen Page's past

Daredevil season 3 villains: Is Bullseye coming?

Having tackled The Kingpin and The Punisher, surely DD's perennial nemesis Bullseye is next on the list for showrunners Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez?

First introduced to comics in 1976, Bullseye is a hitman with uncanny aim and is arguably Matt Murdock's most persistent and formidable foe.

Way back in April 2015, shortly after the launch of Daredevil's first season, Charlie Cox told Digital Spy: "At some point, I presume we've got to have Bullseye – I feel like he has to make an appearance."

Cox reiterated his desire to face off with Bullseye a year later, saying: "I can't imagine doing a run of Daredevil where Bullseye doesn't show up at some point.

"I just think there's such an interesting, rich character there, and also – of course – the history that Bullseye has with Karen Page is an interesting dynamic."

Will Charlie's wish be granted? Time will tell...

SPOILER ALERT!!! In the original comics, it was Bullseye – rather than Nobu – who executed Elektra, while he also later murdered Matt's beloved Karen. The massive dick.

Daredevil movie: Will he join Marvel's Cinematic Universe?

The topic of crossover between Marvel's big-screen efforts and their small-screen siblings can sometimes be a contentious issue...

But earlier this year, Marvel producer Nate Moore stated that it was absolutely possible for Daredevil to make the leap. "We love that idea," he enthused.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Charlie Cox is also on board – and in April 2016, the actor confirmed that his contract does include a clause for Marvel's films.

"When I signed the contract for the show, I signed multiple years for Daredevil and, of course, The Defenders – and in that package there was the opportunity to be involved in the movies," he revealed.

"It would be great if that was to happen – it'd be wonderful. Who wouldn't want to be in the biggest grossing movie of all time?"

Who indeed? And wouldn't it be fantastic to see DD redeem himself at the box office after 2003's Ben Affleck debacle...

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