Daredevil’s 5 MCU Costumes Explained

Summary

• The first footage from
  Daredevil: Born Again
  confirms that Matt Murdock is in possession of at least five differently-colored Daredevil costumes.
• Two of these costumes have already been seen in the MCU, as Daredevil appeared in costume in
  She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
  and
  Echo
  .
• Daredevil’s white helmet, black helmet and bright red helmet have yet to be seen in live-action, but tease some huge storylines for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen in the MCU’s future.

Ahead of the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again, Marvel Studios confirms that Matt Murdock’s Devil of Hell’s Kitchen has at least five different superhero suits in the MCU. Charlie Cox made his return to the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and has made several cameo appearances in subsequent projects ahead of his new solo series, Daredevil: Born Again. Daredevil’s appearances in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Echo have already shown off new-and-improved superhero costumes, but even more have been confirmed by Marvel Studios.

The first trailer for Daredevil: Born Again was released to the audiences at 2024’s Disney Upfront presentation in May and D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in August. This trailer featured a glimpse at five Daredevil cowls of varying colors (via Marvel Updates), which hints at Matt Murdock suiting up in several different costumes in his upcoming Disney+ series. Two of these costumes have already been seen, but the others tease some huge changes for Matt Murdock’s Daredevil in the MCU’s Phase 5 and beyond.

Daredevil’s White Helmet Hints At A Purified Version Of The Man Without Fear

The first of Matt Murdock’s helmets seen in the footage from Daredevil: Born Again is a completely new one for Daredevil in live-action. This white-ish cowl is reminiscent of Daredevil’s purified costume from 2023’s Daredevil run in Marvel Comics by Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder. This run saw Matt Murdock, weighed down by intense guilt, hang up his Daredevil costume and become a priest instead. However, upon realizing New York City needs Daredevil, Murdock enlisted the help of Doctor Strange to face his inner demons.

This process forged a brand-new identity for Daredevil, as Matt Murdock emerged as a version of the vigilante with “no darkness [in him] at all.” Seeing this costume in the live-action MCU would be striking, and would mark a significant transformation for Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, who has always struggled with his dual life. This helmet also bears some resemblance to his blue-ish cowl from 1993’s Daredevil #321, which saw Daredevil don an armored costume that helped him take on the likes of Venom, though it remains to be seen which version Marvel Studios will introduce.

Daredevil also sported this white costume when he became the “Hand of God” in 2023’s
Daredevil #12
by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto.

Daredevil’s Dark Red Helmet Was Used In Netflix’s Defenders Saga

The second helmet in Daredevil’s display seems to be his dark red cowl that he sported frequently throughout his career in Netflix’s Defenders Saga. Charlie Cox first appeared as Matt Murdock in 2015’s Daredevil season 1 on Netflix, but didn’t suit up officially until the season’s finale. He was kitted out in his burgundy costume for Daredevil’s subsequent two seasons and The Defenders. Daredevil: Born Again will act as a continuation of the Defenders Saga, which was confirmed to be canon to the MCU in 2024, so it makes sense that Murdock would retain this version of the costume.

It was this version of his superhero suit that Matt Murdock’s Daredevil suited up in for his cameo appearance in Echo episode 1, “Chafa.” A flashback to 2018 saw Daredevil battle Alaqua Cox’s Maya Lopez and Kingpin’s soldiers in a warehouse. This scene is set during the MCU’s five-year-long Blip, confirming that Matt Murdock survived Thanos’ attack in Avengers: Infinity War, and was operating as Daredevil during this dark and unexplored period of the MCU’s history. Daredevil: Born Again could expand on this, so this dark red costume may be revisited.

Daredevil’s Yellow Helmet Has Already Been Seen In The MCU

While Daredevil sported his classic dark red look in Echo, his prior appearance in 2022’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law saw him don a brand-new superhero suit. Daredevil’s red-and-yellow costume was more reminiscent of his original suit in his Marvel Comics debut back in 1964’s Daredevil #1 by Stan Lee and Bill Everett. This costume had a special significance for Matt Murdock, as it was created from the boxing robes of his late father, “Battling” Jack Murdock, who was portrayed by John Patrick Hayden in flashbacks in Netflix’s Defenders Saga.

In the MCU, this red-and-yellow costume was created by Griffin Matthews’ superhero costume designer Luke Jacobson, whom Jennifer Walters also hires to create a whole wardrobe of versatile clothes for her new life as She-Hulk. Daredevil aids She-Hulk in rescuing Jacobson from Eugene Patilio’s Leapfrog in this costume, and engages in more explicit acts with Jennifer Walters also in this costume. It’s unclear whether Matt Murdock will suit up in his comic-accurate costume in Daredevil: Born Again, but it’s great to see it referenced in the series’ footage.

Daredevil’s Black Helmet Could Hint At A Shadowland Adaptation

The fourth helmet in Daredevil’s display is considerably darker than the others, perhaps bearing a resemblance to his all-black costume from Marvel Comics’ Shadowland storyline from 2010. This crossover storyline marked Matt Murdock’s return to New York City after becoming the leader of the Hand. He builds a temple in New York named Shadowland, which also functions as a prison, and engages in more erratic, extreme and unpredictable behavior. It is soon revealed that he’s been possessed by the Beast of the Hand, which explains his dark new appearance.

The possibility of Matt Murdock’s Shadowland costume being introduced in Daredevil: Born Again could hint at this dark story for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen being adapted into live-action. The Hand played a key role in Netflix’s Defenders Saga, but was seemingly eliminated with the destruction of Midland Circle in The Defenders. However, the group’s prevalence back then means they could reappear in Daredevil: Born Again, which presents the opportunity for Matt Murdock to find himself possessed and corrupted, opening the door for this black costume to appear.

The Hand’s possible reappearance could create the perfect chance for Élodie Yung to also reprise her role as Elektra Natchios in
Daredevil: Born Again
, as she became the group’s leader following her resurrection in
The Defenders
.

Daredevil’s Red Helmet Is From His Vibrant New MCU Costume

The final helmet seen in Daredevil’s display appears to be from the bright red costume that has been seen in set photos from Daredevil: Born Again (via Daredevil Updates). This is a more vibrant and vivid costume for Daredevil than what has previously been seen in live-action, perhaps reflecting the more lighthearted tones of the MCU itself. Netflix’s Defenders Saga was much darker, grittier and more grounded than many previous MCU projects, which meant that Daredevil’s dark red costume made more sense. This change for the MCU will be welcome, however.

Daredevil’s brighter costume in Born Again brings him closer to the classic design of his Marvel Comics counterpart, who has more-often-than-not been seen in a vivid red suit. Even so, he isn’t entirely comic-accurate just yet, as even this bright red costume is missing the iconic “DD” emblem on the chest, but it’s possible that Matt Murdock could earn this insignia over the course of the series. Scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in March 2025, Daredevil: Born Again could showcase more different versions of the Man Without Fear than ever before.

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