Marvel composers Taylor and Andy Newton explain how they reimaginedDaredevil’s iconic main theme for the MCU’sDaredevil: Born Again. Parallel to Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe, Netflix’sDaredevilamassed a huge following, paving the way for an interconnected franchise that includedJessica Jones,Luke Cage, andIron Fist, as well as theirDefenderscrossover series. Thanks to the popularity of Netflix’s Marvel shows, Marvel Studios integrated their continuity into the MCU seamlessly, starting withCharlie Cox’s Matt Murdockin three guest appearances and one starring role.
In an interview withComicBookMovie.com,composers Taylor and Andy Newton describe their reinvention of John Paesano’s now iconicDaredeviltheme forDaredevil: Born Again.The Newton brothers remark the need to highlight Matt Murdock’s inner journey inDaredevil: Born Againand his evolution from Netflix’s three seasons ofDaredevilto his first MCU solo title. Read the Newton brothers' comments below:
Taylor Newton:“Yes, we tried a lot of different options as we always do in the beginning to see what was working. The intention was to honour and continue the original series, so we wanted to bring back the theme and expand on it. I think the real underlining thing was the Matt Murdock of it all. What is his theme? What’s his journey in this story?. We were able to play on that in the main titles and hint at his theme as the series continues. That was the big thing.”
Andy Newton:“I think that being fans ourselves, it was the discussion at the get-go between Taylor and I of, ‘That original John Paesano theme needs to be in there. That’s Daredevil, but what is this new journey we go on this season? Where do we need to take that musically, and what does it mean?’ As Taylor said, it was finding out who Matt Murdock was and that theme. That informed who each of the alter-egos of everyone else there was out there and how we approach that.”
What The Newton Brothers' Daredevil Theme Comments Mean
Daredevil’s Legacy Is Key To The MCU
Netflix’sDaredevilleft the bar very high for any possible Daredevil reinvention.Marvel Studios chose to respectDaredevil’s legacy by keeping its continuity intact and finding a bold yet inspired way to build upon it. Apart from bringing back the original cast and taking up whereDaredevilseason 3’s endingleft off, this included bringing backDaredevil’s iconic main theme, which is now synonymous with Charlie Cox’s portrayal, and updating it with the Newton brothers' fresh take on John Paesano’s original composition.
I Can’t Believe It Took 10 Years For Daredevil To Get A Fully Comics-Accurate Costume, But I’m So Glad The MCU Is Finally Giving It To Us
Daredevil’s new costume looks like it was pulled straight from the comic books, and I can’t wait to see how it looks in upcoming episodes of the show.
Daredevil: Born Again’s main theme sounds familiar to any fan of Netflix’s originalDaredevilseries. However,Daredevil: Born Again’s reimagining ofDaredevil’s theme is distinctly more grandiose. WhereasDaredevil’s original theme relied on a piano melody,Daredevil: Born Again’s new version employs a full orchestra. The result not only represents Daredevil’s integration into a wider universe full of larger-than-life characters, but also a new tragic beginning and Matt Murdock’s difficult journey to avengeFoggy Nelson’s death, one way or another.
Our Take On The Newton Brothers' Daredevil Theme Comments
Daredevil’s Theme Is One Of The Most Recognizable
Each MCU character has their own theme or motif, but some of them are more easily recognizable than others.Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Daredevil have some of the most distintinctive musical motifs in the MCU, whereas the motifs of characters like Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk have changed throughout the years and thus haven’t defined an identity as clear as Daredevil’s. The fact thatDaredevil’s motif is a four-note construction at its core makes it stand out. It only makes sense forDaredevil: Born Againto avoid messing too much with it.
