Besides the Kingpin, there’s one other major arch-foe for Daredevil: Bullseye. Introduced in 1976, the sociopathic killer for hire is famous for his uncanny aim that allows him to throw items like paper clips or staples with lethal accuracy. As the tag line goes, in his hands, anything is a deadly weapon.
On the Netflix Daredevil series, viewers met Benjamin Poindexter, a troubled FBI agent who works for Wilson Fisk. After being paralyzed in a fight, the third season ended with Dex on the operating table. Daredevil: Born Again opened with Dex now embracing his costumed persona as Bullseye and killing Foggy Nelson.
Speaking to The Direct, Wilson Bethel discussed the character, brushing off the idea of him as an “anti-hero.” While Bullseye did work with Daredevil (Charlie Cox) for his own means, he was still shown as an unrepentant killer.
However, Bethel had some interesting comments on the comic book version of Bullseye that he wanted to differ from.
“I mean, I'll be honest, I think that the character that exists in the comics, as cool as many of his story arcs are, is a thin character, that's not a character who we would necessarily want to watch for four seasons of a TV show. There's just not enough there. So no, I mean, I'll take this version of Bullseye any day.”
Bethel added that “as much as I love the way he exists in the comics, I would frankly get bored playing that as an actor. Like, I want somebody who feels human to me and who I can access and if along the way, that means that the fans of the show are surprised or even disgusted with themselves, or whatever it is, or find themselves caring about this character who [they] thought... is just supposed to be some guy they're supposed to hate or is supposed to be one way, then great, I've done my job. But that doesn't necessarily make him an anti-hero. That just makes him a human being, which he is.”
Bethel’s words are intriguing, as it’s true Bullseye has come across as one-note a lot in the comics. Even his true name remains mostly unknown, and he’s shown as focused on Daredevil while killing people less for the money and just because he likes to do it. Bethel may be right that approach wouldn’t work for the show and want to provide layers for the character. Providing Dex with a strange code of his own and being more than just a psychopath is more entertaining.
Bethel was asked if there are any MCU characters he’d like to have Bullseye face off with. To no surprise, he chose Marvel’s true anti-hero, the Punisher (played by Jon Bernthal), although a certain bow-wielding Avenger.
“A few of the tops for me would be, like, I think a Bullseye-Punisher face-off would be absolutely f—- bananas. And just like, brutal. I think Spider-Man would be really fun just knowing their different skill sets. I think that would be a really fun one to see on screen. And then, sort of like a no-brainer, would be Hawkeye.”
The Hawkeye mention is interesting, as in the comics, Bullseye posed as Hawkeye for a “Dark Avengers” team. Seeing Clint Barton (no slouch himself with improvised weapons) brawling with Bullseye would be a fantastic battle.
We don’t know if that will happen yet; it’s proof Bethel is dedicated to making the MCU Bullseye better than his comic book counterpart.
Daredevil: Born Again is streaming on Disney+.
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