Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier recently explained why the movie didn’t reference the events of Daredevil: Born Again, where Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) becomes mayor of New York and bans vigilantes.
In Daredevil: Born Again, Fisk enforces martial law, targeting superheroes. However, Thunderbolts—also set in New York—doesn’t mention this major storyline. Fans wondered why, but Schreier says the film needed to stay focused on its own plot.
Why Thunderbolts* Ignored Fisk’s Martial Law
Schreier told ComicBookMovie that the team was aware of Daredevil: Born Again but chose not to include it to keep the story tight.
“Our movie happens in just a few days,” he said. “The threat is immediate, and the Thunderbolts are the only ones who can handle it. Other heroes wouldn’t have time to react.”
He added that since the final battle against the Void (the film’s villain) happens so quickly, martial law and Fisk’s policies didn’t need to be addressed.
Screenwriter’s Take: Time Moves Differently in the Void
Writer Eric Pearson also explained why heroes like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange didn’t help. He suggested that time inside the Void moves faster, meaning the fight was over before other heroes could arrive.
What This Means for the MCU’s Future
By the end of Thunderbolts, the team becomes the government-approved New Avengers. The post-credits scene teases their next mission but still doesn’t mention Fisk.
Marvel seems to be avoiding forcing connections between movies and TV shows, making it easier for casual fans to follow along. Thunderbolts works as a standalone story, and adding Fisk’s storyline might have distracted from the main plot.
Final Thoughts
While some fans wanted Thunderbolts to acknowledge Daredevil: Born Again, the decision to keep the stories separate helps the movie stay focused. Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see how Marvel handles Fisk’s role in future MCU projects.
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