The Avengers movies are exciting for several reasons, but perhaps the biggest one is getting to watch many Marvel Cinematic Universe characters interact with each other for the very first time after debuting in stand-alone projects. History was made the moment Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America reunited for the first time on the big screen back in 2012, and who can forget when Spider-Man finally got to team up with other heroes in Captain America: Civil War after more than a decade of working alone. Fortunately, plenty more moments like these await on the horizon.
The Fantastic Four and X-Men haven't had the opportunity to cross paths with Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but that is soon to change. Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be the biggest MCU crossover to date, with many fan-favorite heroes confirmed to be joining the big leagues for the first time. With excitement levels through the roof, fans have wondered whether there are unannounced appearances that could take them by surprise. Unfortunately, an iconic hero who could've been the perfect candidate is confirmed to miss out on the fight against Doom.
Charlie Cox denies his appearance in the upcoming Avengers movies
It appears Matt Murdock has a blind spot concerning the big MCU crossovers. During an interview with Phase Hero's Brandon Davis, Charlie Cox was asked if he would appear in the upcoming Avengers movies, to which he replied: "No. I'm just concentrating on DD right now".
On the one hand, this could be the usual case of a Marvel star trying to keep a big surprise under wraps. After all, Andrew Garfield denied his involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home multiple times prior to the film's release despite having a major role in it, so there's a slight chance that Charlie could find himself in a similar position. Unfortunately, there's evidence to suggest that Daredevil will truly remain disconnected from the bigger events that are about to unfold in the MCU.
Back in June, it was reported that Matt Murdock and the rest of the Defenders won't be in either Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, as "those characters are really isolated". While the news might be disappointing, it makes sense as the street-level corner of the MCU has remained mostly disconnected from the ongoing multiversal storyline.
For the time being, Daredevil is concerned with the Kingpin's new regime as opposed to Doctor Doom's plan of reigning supreme over every reality. If there isn't an organic way for the Man Without Fear to join Earth's Mightiest Heroes, then the best option is for him to simply miss out on the adventure rather than being shoehorned in for the sake of it. But even if Marvel doesn't intend for the iconic hero to be in the Avengers, that's not to say there aren't big plans in store for him.
Rumor has it that all of the Defenders will assemble in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, with Jessica Jones officially confirmed to take part in it. Furthermore, it has been reported that Daredevil, Punisher, Spider-Man, and other heroes will meet in a future MCU project, although it wasn't specified which. Last, but certainly not least, Marvel wants the Kingpin to be the villain of an upcoming Spider-Man movie. So even if Matt doesn't join Earth's Mightiest Heroes, there are plenty of places where he could steal the spotlight.
Marvel's approach to the Defenders seems to be very similar to that of The Midnight Sons. After all, it has also been reported that characters like Moon Knight won't appear in the upcoming Avengers movies either, but he'll join other supernatural characters in a big crossover further down the line. If true, this could prove to be the right strategy for two big reasons. First and foremost, Marvel could develop plenty of exciting crossovers outside of the Avengers umbrella. Furthermore, every character would participate in a movie that's tailored to their ongoing arcs.
Only time will tell what the future has in store for the devil of Hell's Kitchen. With a bit of luck, the second season of his show will give us some hints as to where his story is heading.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 will be released on March 4, 2026.