Daredevil: Born Again Bringing In Major Marvel Character
After months of speculation, Nikki M. James’ undisclosed role in Daredevil: Born Again has been revealed. According to a Marvel copyright filing, the actress will play Assistant District Attorney Kirsten McDuffie. The document includes several other cast additions, such as Michael Gandolfini’s character, Daniel Blade, a completely original creation for the series.
Other new Daredevil: Born Again characters include Sheila Rivera, portrayed by Zabryna Guevara, and BB Urich, played by Genneya Walton, who may be linked to New York Bulletin reporter Ben Urich from the first season of Netflix’s Daredevil series. Margarita Levieva has been cast as Heather Glenn, a relatively minor character from the comics who became a romantic interest for Matt Murdock.
Marvel copyright filings reveal several acting roles for Daredevil: Born Again, including that of actress Nikki M. James, who will portray Kirsten McDuffie.
Arty Froushan takes on the role of Buck Cashman/Bullet, a character from Daredevil’s rogues gallery with ties to Wilson Fisk. Missing from the Daredevil: Born Again filing are Matt Murdock’s friends, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, who Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll played in the Netflix series. Since the listing is only for the show’s first episode, the pair might appear further down the line.
Kirsten McDuffie In Marvel Comics
Created by Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera., Kirsten McDuffie made her Marvel Comics debut in 2001’s Daredevil Vol. 3 #1. She was determined to unveil Matt Murdock’s secret identity as Daredevil when he returned to New York City after the events of Shadowland. There was evident romantic tension between them, but Kirsten had reservations about dating a man who lied about his superhero persona.
Later, it was revealed that Kirsten’s roommate, Dina, was in a romantic relationship with Matt’s best friend and law firm partner, Foggy Nelson. Kirsten (played by Nikki M. James in Daredevil: Born Again) used this connection to get closer to Matt while pressuring him to admit his superhero identity. Eventually, Kirsten agreed to go on a date with Matt, where he disclosed details about his past.
As Matt’s behavior grew increasingly erratic, the carefully constructed life he had built since his previous nervous breakdown began to unravel. Foggy arranged a meeting with Kirsten at a bar, where he confessed Matt’s true identity as Daredevil in a desperate attempt to protect her from the perilous fate that had befallen Matt’s previous love interests.
Eventually, Matt admitted that he was Daredevil, ending years of public speculation. With his double life exposed, Kirsten (who will appear in Daredevil: Born Again) believed they needed a fresh start and decided to relocate to San Francisco. However, during Charles Soule’s run on Daredevil, Matt Murdock returned to Hell’s Kitchen, working in the district attorney’s office rather than his private law firm.
Matt’s secret identity as Daredevil was mysteriously restored, and he found himself single again, with Kirsten no longer in the picture. Daredevil resumed his dual role as a crime fighter in the courtroom and on Manhattan’s rooftops. The truth was eventually revealed due to Matt’s public declaration as Daredevil.
In San Francisco, the couple became targets of Matt’s enemies, which left Matt concerned for Kirsten’s safety. Matt enlisted the help of the Purple Man’s children to erase everyone’s knowledge of his identity as Daredevil, with Foggy the only exception. To protect Kirsten, Matt decided to break up with her and left San Francisco. It’s unclear if this story will be included in Daredevil: Born Again.
