This week, I’m writing fresh out of my second screening of Captain America: Brave New World and I have to say that I enjoyed it more the second time. Some writing issues I spotlighted in my review last week were smoothed over by knowing the plot's general beats from the beginning. I picked up on a few cues that did not resonate the first time. Still, I stand by everything in that review. I think it is a solid middle-tier MCU entry, and it is disappointing to see the box office fall off substantially in its second weekend (reportedly by about 68%). Want to know what Robby and Kyle thought about the movie upon further reflection? Find out tomorrow when the latest Friends From Work podcast episode drops (including their interview with the movie’s director- Julius Onah). The guys will also check back in on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man after its thrilling conclusion to its first season last week.

After that, everything around here shifts into Daredevil mode, with Daredevil: Born Again right around the corner. On Wednesday and Thursday, the first two (of three) podcasts covering the third season of Netflix’s Daredevil will be released on the main feed. Previously, these were only available to FFW+ subscribers. Everything culminates with Friday’s second brand-new podcast of the week: “Daredevil- Saga So Far.”

For more on Daredevil, let’s check in over at…

THE WATERCOOLER

THIS WEEK IN THE MCU

• Entertainment Weekly had full coverage of Daredevil: Born Again on their site last week, including this comprehensive look at the show featuring interviews with the main cast and producer Sana Amanat, who previously worked on Ms. Marvel. 

• There was also this piece teasing season 2, which has already started filming. Showrunner Dario Scardapane and head of Marvel Television Brad Winderbaum spoke to writer Nick Romano for the article.

• In a separate article, Winderbaum discussed the desire to bring back other characters from the ‘Defender-verse,’ including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.

• One character who is definitely returning? Jack Duquesne, AKA ‘The Swordsman'.’ In a Variety exclusive, it was revealed that Tony Dalton will return to reprise the role he first played in 2021’s Hawkeye.

• British GQ wrote a terrific profile on Charlie Cox last week that everyone should read. Cox speaks candidly about what the role means to him and how it changed his life. The profile also provides some details on the overhaul that took place behind the scenes of Daredevil: Born Again during the 2023 strikes. Six episodes had already been shot when the decision was made to replace the showrunners with Dario Scardapane. Scardapane oversaw the writing of the final three episodes and some additional scenes for the first six that were designed to help all nine episodes feel like one cohesive whole.

• The social media embargo for Daredevil: Born Again lifts tomorrow at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT. The first two episodes (and full reviews) will be released on Tuesday, March 4th, at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT. Episodes three and four will debut the following two weeks (3/11 and 3/18) before another pair of episodes air on 3/25 (episodes 5 & 6).

• Captain America: Brave New World director Julius Onah continued making the interview rounds last week, speaking to Variety and The Wrap about myriad topics. Onah defended star Harrison Ford against scurrilous accusations made against him by another outlet, calling Ford an “utter professional.” He also got into the details about that post-credits scene, when it was filmed, and what it almost included. You do not want to miss Kyle and Robby’s own chat with the director on tomorrow’s podcast.

• If you missed the first season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Creator Jeff Trammell and his team have created something special. After the finale aired, Trammell took to social media to tease the arrival of Gwen Stacy, AKA Spider-Gwen, in season 2.

• Several possible Marvel Television series’ (all mentioned previously in our ‘rumor of the week’ section at one time or another) were officially paused at the studio, per Deadline. Those shows are Nova, Strange Academy, and Terror Inc. All were in various stages of development but are essentially dead (for now) at the studio. From my point of view, this should be considered a good thing. Part of the creative overhaul that took place last year involved being more selective about the projects that are greenlit, and this decision is proof of that.

• The saying goes, “When one door closes, another opens.” That may be the case for Marvel Television because, after the news above, Brad Winderbaum told EW about two shows that the studio is actively pursuing second seasons for: Agatha All Along and Hawkeye.

• Sony announced that the release date for Spider-Man 4 had moved back one week to July 31st, 2026. No reason was given for the move.

BEYOND THE MULTIVERSE

This space is usually reserved for other movie and television news from outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this week, I am turning my eye toward big news for both Marvel and DC Comics.

• I have sung the praises of Deniz Camp and the entire “Ultimate Universe” that has been created over the last year for Marvel Comics many times, so I was delighted by the announcement of a new limited series, “Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion,” to be written by Camp and Cody Ziglar with art by Jonas Scharf. This series will focus on Miles Morales and pick up on a thread planted all the way back at the beginning of the story by Jonathan Hickman.

• Speaking of the GOAT Jonathan Hickman, Marvel Comics teased a mysterious new series from him titled “Imperial,” coming this June.

• Chip Zdarsky recently wrapped up a long run on Batman for DC Comics, and it did not take long for him to find new work. Marvel announced that Zdarsky will form a veritable all-star team with artist Valerio Schiti to take over “Captain America” in July.

• Not to be outdone, DC Comics announced their own all-star duo to take over work on Batman. Writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jimenez will kick off an all-new era for the Caped Crusader in September.

• Finally, after the sales success of the “DC Versus Marvel Omnibus” that was released last year, DC Comics Editor-In-Chief Marie Javins and Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski jointly announced two new one-shot comics that will be released later in 2025. The omnibus mentioned above and so much more can be purchased from our partners at Organic Priced Books. Use the code “FRIENDSFROMWORK” and receive a discount on your order.

TRUE BELIEVERS RUMOR OF THE WEEK

• Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider suggested last week that one reason Marvel Studios decided not to move forward with several shows that had been in development was because the studio had decided to shift its focus primarily towards giving the X-Men a proper introduction to the MCU. The series Snieder suggested could become a priority is “X-Academy,” which would focus on a group of gifted youngsters at Xavier’s school in upstate New York.

  It was quite a busy week around here, and there are no signs of slowing down. Make sure you are following Friends From Work on all social media platforms, including YouTube, and subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Please share this with anyone you know who loves the MCU like we do.

  See you back here next week,

  -Greg

.