Disney+Daredevil: Born Again introduces a brand-new character to the MCU: Daniel Blake, who works for Wilson Fisk as part of his mayoral staff – and this is why you recognize him.
Daredevil is back, and Marvel’s revival hasn’t pulled any punches with its first two episodes. It opens with a huge death, but that isn’t even the worst part: Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, is now the Mayor of New York City.
In Episode 2, he kicks off his political tenure by barging through as much red tape as he can, much to the ire of his chief of staff Sheila. However, one person on his staff thinks he should ramp up his unorthodox methods: Daniel Blake.
Daniel doesn’t originate in the Marvel Comics, created exclusively for Daredevil: Born Again – and this is who plays him.
Who plays Daniel Blake in Daredevil: Born Again?
Disney+Michael Gandolfini plays Daniel Blake in Daredevil: Born Again.
His character is an outspoken, ride-or-die supporter of Wilson Fisk; he likes him because he “gets sh*t done, you made things happen for yourself, now you’ll make things happen for New York. I mean… Mayor Fisk? That’s the coolest f*king thing on the planet.”
While Gandolfini is a talented actor in his own right (he’s starred in The Deuce, Cherry, and Beau is Afraid), he’s also the son of the late James Gandolfini, an acting legend best known for his portrayal of Tony Soprano in The Sopranos.
In 2021, Michael followed in his dad’s footsteps – literally – by playing a young version of Tony in The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel movie to the iconic series.
Here’s another cool detail: just as Michael Gandolfini stars in the new Daredevil series, Robert Iler (who played Tony’s son AJ in The Sopranos) had a minor role in 2003’s Daredevil movie with Ben Affleck.
Speaking to THR, Gandolfini said it was a “big responsibility” to join the cast of Born Again.
“You feel the pressure of bringing something completely new in. You want to further the story, but you also want to respect the past. I was a huge fan [of the original Daredevil show] as a 16-year-old, going to high school, and now I get to be in it,” he explained.
“So, it’s a lot of pressure, but, honestly, you get to work with amazing actors. You get to work with people who take you along, and can show you, ‘This is how we did it previously. This is the vibe. This is the tone.’ And you just follow them. So, it truly is a dream come true.”
Make sure you know when the next episode drops with our Daredevil: Born Again release schedule, find out more about when Born Again takes place in the MCU timeline, and check out our ranking of every Marvel TV show. Also, if you want to know what to watch before Born Again, we’ve got you covered.
