Marvel Studios Just Unveiled Its Next Major Daredevil Villain

The second season of Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again promises to take the show to a new level, moving beyond the typical crime stories of Hell’s Kitchen. Recently, it was announced that Matthew Lillard, known for his work in horror films, will play the new villain, Mr. Charles. This casting, along with several others confirmed earlier this year, adds a significant new threat to Daredevil’s world, and his identity was just revealed.

Brad Winderbaum, who leads Marvel’s TV and animation projects, has revealed that actor Michael Kenneth Williams (playing Mr. Charles) will be a key character in the second season of Born Again. Mr. Charles will be a powerful and internationally connected figure who creates problems for both Daredevil (Matt Murdock) and the Kingpin (Wilson Fisk).

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the interviewer pointed out Matthew Lillard’s long career in horror films – including iconic movies like Scream and Scooby-Doo – and asked if he was cast to bring a specific horror feel to the project.

Winderbaum didn’t directly say the character will be horror-themed, but he hinted at a story filled with complicated politics and power plays. This suggests that Bill Skarsgård, known for playing unsettling and unpredictable characters, will be portraying a significant and highly dangerous villain.

Winderbaum explained that the actor plays a character called Mr. Charles. The story revolves around the theme of power, specifically how Wilson Fisk’s rise to power—not just as mayor, but as a dominant figure—elevates him to a global level. Matthew Lillard’s character embodies this new level of influence.

MCU Villains in Daredevil’s Rogues’ Gallery

Kingpin (Wilson Fisk)

Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin, is Daredevil’s greatest enemy. He’s a powerful and calculating crime boss, driven by deep emotions and a surprising goal: not just to get rich, but to control and rebuild New York City, believing he’s actually saving it.

Throughout the series, Wilson Fisk has been central to the story, evolving from a shadowy manipulator in the first season of Daredevil to the openly elected Mayor we see in Born Again. As mayor, he strengthens his control by exploiting a crisis he creates himself. In the season finale, he officially imposes martial law on New York City through a program called the Safer Streets Initiative.

Vanessa Fisk

Vanessa Marianna is far more than just a love interest for Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin. She’s his conscience and partner in crime, providing him with a sense of purpose and highlighting a surprisingly ruthless side of his personality. When she’s in danger, it actually fuels his violent behavior. Ultimately, Vanessa acts as a villain by supporting and shielding the Kingpin, becoming completely integrated into his world and his criminal activities.

Wesley (James Wesley)

As a long-time follower of the Kingpin’s story, I always found James Wesley fascinating. He was really Fisk’s right-hand man in the beginning, handling everything – logistics, smoothing things over with people, all the behind-the-scenes stuff. He was incredibly efficient and always kept a cool head. But his run-in with Karen Page? That was a huge turning point. It forced Fisk to really step into the light and become the villain we all know. It was the moment things truly changed.

Madame Gao

Wai Ching Ho played Madame Gao, who appeared delicate but was actually a shrewd and merciless leader of the Hand, a centuries-old criminal group with worldwide reach. She ran a large heroin operation in Hell’s Kitchen, distributing drugs branded with the Steel Serpent symbol. Disturbingly, the people who made these drugs had voluntarily blinded themselves as a demonstration of their devotion to her.

Though she seemed ordinary, Gao was incredibly wise, a master of martial arts, and had superhuman powers. She claimed to be centuries old, having lived since the 1600s, and could use her inner energy, or ‘chi,’ to move objects with her mind, effectively pushing opponents away. However, the upcoming second season of the Marvel series Born Again will not feature this ability.

Elektra Natchios

Elektra, a skilled fighter and Matt Murdock’s ex-girlfriend, might return in season two of Daredevil: Born Again. Élodie Yung, who previously played the character, is expected to reprise the role. Known for her dangerous fighting style and connection to the shadowy group called The Hand, Elektra was a major villain in the original Daredevil series on Netflix.

Although Marvel Studios hasn’t confirmed it, several actors from the original Netflix series will be appearing, including Charlie Cox as Daredevil, Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, Jon Bernthal as Punisher, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, and Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page. Bringing back Elektra would give the new Disney+ show a chance to reveal what happened to her after the events of The Defenders miniseries.

The Punisher (Frank Castle)

Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, is a former soldier who dedicates himself to fighting crime after his family is killed. Though he shares the same goal of reducing crime as Daredevil, his willingness to use deadly force and kill many criminals clashes with Daredevil’s strict rule against taking lives. In season 2 of Daredevil, Castle served as a major ideological opponent, forcing Matt Murdock to question his own beliefs and how he pursues justice.

Fans can expect the Punisher to reappear in the second season of Born Again. The first season included small clues suggesting his comeback, such as his signature skull symbol being used by dishonest cops.

Bullseye (Benjamin Poindexter)

Benjamin Poindexter, known as Dex, is a skilled but mentally fragile FBI agent who is controlled by Wilson Fisk. Fisk takes advantage of Dex’s incredible accuracy and ability to turn anything into a weapon, exploiting his psychological vulnerabilities to use him for his own purposes.

As a huge Daredevil fan, I was really blown away by the Dex/Bullseye storyline. Seeing him basically become a twisted copy of Daredevil, wearing a version of the suit to trash Matt Murdock’s name and act as Fisk’s hitman, was brilliant. And I’m so excited Wilson Bethel is coming back! It sounds like we’re finally going to see him fully lean into the classic Bullseye character in the new Disney+ series, which is exactly what I’ve been hoping for.

Muse

The first season of Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again introduces Muse, a frightening new villain. Based on a character from the Daredevil comics and played by Hunter Doohan, Muse—also known as Bastian Cooper—is a disturbing serial killer who turns his crimes into unsettling works of art, using the bodies of his victims and the city itself to make a macabre statement.

Throughout the series, Fisk cleverly uses the public’s fear of Muse’s violent acts to push his own goals of discrediting vigilantes. This creates a strange situation where Daredevil and Kingpin temporarily find themselves opposing the same threat, though indirectly. Ultimately, Muse is killed by someone he was trying to harm, Heather Glenn.

Buck Cashman

Let me tell you about Buck Cashman, who comic fans will recognize as the mercenary Bullet. He’s become Wilson Fisk’s new top enforcer in the Born Again series. After James Wesley was taken out of the picture, Buck smoothly stepped in, handling everything from dirty work to political maneuvering. He was absolutely key to Fisk’s successful mayoral run, quietly managing all the shady stuff and using intel to safeguard Fisk’s growing power base. Essentially, Buck is the Kingpin’s main man on the streets, and a seriously effective one at that.

Devlin

Devlin is a typical street criminal that Daredevil often fights. In the Born Again storyline, he’s shown as a small-time, but violent, troublemaker – usually a thief or someone working for a bigger villain – who quickly feels the force of Daredevil’s strong, yet fair, brand of justice.

Devlin is responsible for a double murder and a truck hijacking at the Red Hook Port. He later plans a bank robbery to obtain a diamond needed to pay off a rival gang, but his scheme is stopped by Matt Murdock and the police. He was a strong early opponent for Matt, helping to re-establish his role as a street-level vigilante.

Mr. Charles

Charles is emerging as a powerful new enemy, comparable in influence to Wilson Fisk. This development shifts Daredevil’s conflict beyond local crime fighting, raising the stakes to include international issues and complex political maneuvering due to Mayor Fisk’s growing power.

Bringing in Mr. Charles is a deliberate move to challenge Kingpin, forcing him to deal with a powerful international player while also fighting Daredevil locally. Lillard’s character adds a new kind of threat – someone who operates in the world of high finance and espionage, proving that the biggest dangers to New York aren’t always about drugs and violence, but can come from those in power who deal in secrets.

2025-12-06 02:10