Cameo appearances by familiar faces are a hallmark of superhero blockbusters, firing up fan speculation. So when Jennifer Garner suited up again as assassin Elektra in Deadpool & Wolverine, tongues wagged about other defenders of Hell’s Kitchen joining the fray. However, director Shawn Levy has now doused hopes of seeing Ben Affleck re-emerge as blind lawyer Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil.
Affleck’s outing as Daredevil in the 2003 Fox film drew mixed reactions, with the actor himself calling out flaws but praising its compassionate depiction of disability. Despite the property’s passionately devoted sect of supporters, Levy confirmed their man without fear never advanced beyond cursory talks. “We looked at a massive roster of characters, and Daredevil was discussed early on but not seriously considered after that initial phase,” Levy told Variety.
In crafting the blockbuster mashup, Levy had the daunting task of selecting the perfect players from Marvel’s bench of hundreds. As he explained, choices centered on characters central to the storyline rather than gratuitous flashes from the past. Fans can still find solace in a behind-the-scenes tribute featuring moments from previous 20th Century Fox X-films, including Daredevil.
While Affleck went unseen, Garner lit up the screen once more as deadly Elektra. Her co-star Dafne Keen was wowed by Garner’s ability to seamlessly reprise complex fight sequences. She also landed one of the film’s biggest laughs with a joke about her high-profile divorce from Affleck, approved by both parties with good humor.
Whether Daredevil may swing by future Marvel outings remains uncertain. For now, Levy and company can bask in praised for artfully selecting cameo artists like Garner and Blade actor Wesley Snipes that enhanced rather than overshadowed their story.
