The big-screen debut of Doctor Strange has been getting a lot of attention this week, but the television side of Marvel’s cinematic universe just earned some time in the spotlight by revealing the first, official photos from the upcoming second season of Daredevil, the popular Netflix series set to return next year.
Not only do the photos give fans a glimpse of star Charlie Cox in his alter ego’s new costume, but they also offer an early peek at The Walking Dead actor Jon Bernthal as the gunslinging vigilante The Punisher and Elodie Yung as the deadly assassin Elektra.
The new photos were revealed via Entertainment Weekly, and one features Daredevil (Cox) chained to a chimney on the roof of a building while Frank Castle (Bernthal) looms over him, wielding a gun. The other photo features Matt Murdock (Daredevil’s lawyer-by-day persona) getting some instruction in billiards from Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). Over at ScreenCrush, a scan of the issue’s interior feature on Daredevil offers a shot of Yung as Electra.
Along with providing the first photos from the second season of the Netflix series, the issue also features some insight from the series’ cast and creative team about the dynamic between its titular hero and his new supporting cast members — some of whom might not have the best interests of Daredevil (or his city) in mind.
“Viewers watching the show will be rooting for this guy with a gun but we’re also going to force people — the way we force Matt — to second-guess themselves,” showrunner Doug Petrie told EW. “Taking lethal justice into your own hands in America in 2015 is tricky s–t. We have not shied away from the rich, complicated reality of Now. If you’ve got a gun and you’re not the police, you’re going to incite strong feelings. We’re stirring the pot and we’re aware of the headlines where we live and we’re trying to get people to think.”
As for Elektra, Daredevil’s long and complicated relationship with Yung’s character in the comics has led to some of the hero’s most memorable story arcs, and the Daredevil series’ creative team seems to be well aware of the duo’s history.
“Matt’s a deeply moral, complicated guy and she’s just the best bad girlfriend you can possibly have,” said Petrie of Elektra. “She does everything wrong and attractive, she’s his id, the wild side. Matt is always taming his wild side. Elektra just lets it out. He’s both repulsed and deeply drawn to that.”
Along with Cox, Woll, Bernthal, and Yung, the second season of the record-breaking Netflix series will feature Elden Henson reprising his role as Foggy Nelson, as well as Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Scott Glenn as Stick, and possibly a cameo from Jessica Jones actor Mike Colter as Luke Cage.
The second season of Daredevil is expected to premiere at some point in 2016.
