Warning! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episode 4.
Michael Gandolfini is proving to be a great addition to the cast of Daredevil: Born Again, but if one theory is proven correct, he could have a much larger role to play in future stories. Michael Gandolfini is a rising star in Hollywood whose performance as a teenage Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark helped to assert him as a powerful and talented actor. However, his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is already showing a great deal of nuance and intrigue with his performance as he plays a man named Daniel Blake.
However, at this early stage in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, it appears as though his character has a steep learning curve ahead if he hopes to succeed. And yet, theories are floating around about the character and the potential future that they may have in other entries inside the MCU. If the show is set up to follow one particular storyline that explores some less familiar parts of Wilson Fisk's backstory, then Gandolfini could be a much bigger part of the series going forward.
Michael Gandolfini's Daniel Blake Is A Key Part Of Kingpin's Regime In Daredevil: Born Again
Daniel Blake Appears To Be A Huge Wilson Fisk Fan
Daniel Blake is a central part of Daredevil: Born Again despite not being a character from the comics. Daniel was a newly created character who had a clear devotion to Wilson Fisk, praising his every action, and viewing him as the ultimate force for change in New York. As a young person, taking an interest in the political arena, and following a candidate whose opinions and choices may be controversial, Daniel puts himself into an awkward position among friends and peers, but his loyalty and faith in Fisk far outweigh any doubts or self-conscious beliefs that would cause him to stop ing his hero.
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The showrunner of Daredevil: Born Again may have contradicted himself, as the first four episodes focus more on dialogue and have fewer action scenes.
Initially, Daniel started out as a campaigner for Fisk, but due to his enthusiasm and exuberance, Fisk saw fit to grant the young man a more senior and involved position. Now, he stands as an advisor and close confidante to the Mayor of New York. This grants Daniel an unusual amount of power and influence, despite having no real political background. But, if the rumors are to be believed, the fact that Fisk has taken such a shine to the boy may go deeper than the fact that Daniel says nice things about him.
Marvel Theory: Michael Gandolfini's Character Is Actually Fisk's Son
Wilson Fisk May Be Withholding Some More Important Information From Vanessa
One theory proposes that Michael Gandolfini's Daniel Blake may actually be the biological son of Wilson Fisk, and there are some surprising clues that point to this being a possibility that could turn out to be true. For instance, in the first episode, when Fisk and Matt Murdock sit down in a diner to catch up and set expectations, Fisk mentions how he tried to mentor someone, and it went wrong. This is clearly a reference to Maya Lopez in Echo, but it may have been mentioned as a way of highlighting how Fisk is now mentoring someone else special, namely Daniel Blake.
One theory proposes that Michael Gandolfini's Daniel Blake may actually be the biological son of Wilson Fisk.
Beyond that, the series so far has made multiple references to fathers, and the relationships that define men like Fisk. Typically, when a show makes a lot of references to an odd detail, it's intended to play a bigger role in the theme, or foreshadow a reveal coming later in the series. And considering how Daniel Blake idolizes Fisk, and clearly looks up to him as a father figure, it seems possible at least that he could be Fisk's son. This is further backed up by Gandolfini's striking similarities with Fisk, and the fact that he has made a career playing young heirs to powerful crime bosses.
Kingpin Having A Son Has Precedence In The Marvel Comics
The Comics Already Point To Kingpin Having Family Ties
In the comics, there is a precedent for Wilson Fisk having a son who goes on to become heir to his criminal empire. In not just one comic timeline, but two separate sets of stories, Kingpin has son's who both go on to claim their position as the new Kingpin. First up, Richard Fisk is the son of Wilson and Vanessa, and he generally adores his father. Even though his parents send him away to a private school, Richard speaks highly of his father, and is stunned by the revelation that Wilson Fisk is a brutal crime lord.
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Byron "Butch" Pharris, on the other hand, was not raised by two wealthy and loving parents. Instead, he grew up being cared for by his single mother, who previously got romantically involved with Fisk. Butch had no time with his father growing up. However, when he learns about his father's role as the Kingpin of New York, he changes his name to cash in on his heritage. Daniel Blake is a new character, so he doesn't perfectly align with either son from the comics, but it does feel like there could be some overlap between Daniel's character and either of Wilson Fisk's two sons from the comics.
What Michael Gandolfini's Character Being Fisk's Son Means For Daredevil
Michael Gandolfini Is An Interesting Casting Choice To Simply Play A Fisk Fanboy
The thing is, as Daniel Blake, the devoted employee, Fisk has an incredibly loyal ally. This is invaluable, and Fisk proved how much he values loyalty when he avoided punishing Daniel for mistakes in Daredevil: Born Again, episode 4. But, as his one and only son, Daniel would make the whole narrative of this season so much more complex. Not only does it provide Fisk with a chance to create a legacy that lives on through his lineage, but it allows him to mentor and guide someone the way he wanted to connect with and guide Maya Lopez.
Daniel could learn everything from Fisk, and find himself growing to assume the position of Kingpin after Fisk retires, while still upholding and ing his father until such a time should come. Of course, there are plenty of reasons for this theory to not pan out, and Ganfolfini's character is simply a devoted fan, but the family connection would be an interesting element to explore. And at the same time, heroes like Daredevil will now be forced to face another up-and-coming villain alongside Fisk. It's hard to imagine Daniel, as devoted as he may be, running into battle before he learns how to defend himself, but with more seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, the show has time to flesh out Daniel Blake as a main character.
Daredevil: Born Again
- Release Date
- March 4, 2025
- Network
- Disney+
- Showrunner
- Chris Ord
Cast
Matt Murdock / Daredevil
Wilson Fisk
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
- Writers
- Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree
- Franchise(s)
- Daredevil, Marvel Cinematic Universe
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