18 Years Later, Marvel Officially Remakes Iron Man’s Ending

Warning! This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 8.Iron Man is one of the most iconic films in the entire MCU for several reasons, but the epic ending has just been recreated with incredible style in Daredevil: Born Again season 2. Iron Man stands out as the first ever movie of the MCU, and in many ways, it set the foundation for the entire universe. Even now, 18 years after the movie debuted, it continues to have an influence in important ways in the modern MCU.

From Robert Downey Jr.’s stellar performance as Tony Stark and the direction of Jon Favreau, to the incredibly ambitious attempt to turn a hero who was so much less well-known compared to characters like Spider-Man, Hulk, and the X-Men into an icon, Iron Man was fighting an uphill battle, and it came out on top. Now, the movie stands out as one of the greatest superhero origin story films ever made.

So, it makes complete sense when other movies and shows, both inside the MCU and beyond, begin to repeat iconic moments from the film. Which is exactly what happens in the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 finale as Matt Murdock takes a page out of Tony Stark’s book.

The Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Finale Repeats Iron Man’s Ending

While in a courtroom with numerous cameras streaming the case to the rest of New York and beyond, Matt Murdock reveals that he is the Daredevil. This jaw-dropping moment inspires restlessness, excitement, and gets everyone talking, while also adding serious weight to everything that Murdock is saying.

This moment has some striking similarities to the Iron Man ending, when Tony Stark stands in front of a room full of reporters, and despite being advised to stick to a fabricated story, he throws out the script and tells the world, “I am Iron Man.”

In both cases, the world is introduced to a hero who has gained a lot of notoriety in the news cycles, and an unexpected person who is assuming this identity. In Iron Man, a cocky weapons dealer reveals he has been fighting back against the distribution of weapons. And in Daredevil: Born Again, a blind lawyer unveils that he is, in fact, the extremely acrobatic and efficient vigilante hero, Daredevil.

However, while Tony Stark had billions of dollars behind him and the help of a highly coordinated government body of spies, AKA S.H.I.E.L.D., Murdock has been hiding in the shadows, and he has no way to avoid the consequences of his actions as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.

With Daredevil Unmasked, Matt Murdock Faces An Uncertain Future

Matt Murdock is seen to enjoy a short grace period after his double life is exposed, with him going for a meal with a free Karen Page. However, it isn’t long before law enforcement shows up and apprehends him. Then, we see him in a prison wearing a jumpsuit, where he crosses paths with a line of AVTF agents who have also been thrown into jail.

Now, Matt can certainly handle himself, but the fact that he is alone in a prison, where several other criminals who he put away as Daredevil, along with the violent AVTF agents who are now facing consequences for their actions thanks to Matt, does not bode well for his future. There is a high probability that Matt will face trouble on the inside.

All of this while his rival, Wilson Fisk, has wound up on a beach somewhere far away from the consequences of his despicable actions. Despite this, Matt has a lot of friends outside prison who may find a way to intercede and break him free, but as of right now, he seems to be in serious trouble.

The MCU Is Making A Habit Of Ridding Heroes Of Secret Identities

While Tony Stark was the prototype for exposing a superhero identity and then seeing how that affects the stories going forward, many of the characters in the MCU have been forthcoming about who they are. From Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson, and the numerous others who seem to see no benefit in maintaining a secret identity, Daredevil feels like one of the last of a dying breed.

Other than him, there are characters, like Spider-Man, who continue to wear a mask and avoid sharing their real identity with the world. And in the case of Spider-Man, this is extremely complex because no one has any memory of Peter Parker anyway.

That being said, the divide between powerful characters who are willing to say who they really are from the start, and those who want to conceal their identity may begin to spread ever further apart as the Multiverse Saga draws to a close, and as the Mutant Saga begins to rise from the ashes of this, the darkest era in the MCU to date.

18 Years On, Iron Man Continues To Be The Foundation Of The MCU

In 2008, Iron Man proved that superhero movies were not just for fans of comics or people who already love fantasy and sci-fi. It defied expectations, and it launched the MCU, which went on to have multiple movies that earned well over a billion dollars each. Clearly, something went very right with Iron Man.

Of course, Robert Downey Jr. is a once-in-a-generation talent who manages to captivate and attract audiences across a wide variety of demographics, but the world of the MCU is equally diverse. With real-world settings, alongside fictional kingdoms like Wakanda and Talokan, the MCU has something for everyone.

On top of that, the film did a tremendous job with special effects, not relying too heavily on them for every moment, but also enhancing areas that massively benefited from slight adjustments. Across the board, Iron Man has managed to become the core template for what is possible with the MCU. Iron Man is also unrivaled in terms of the character arc that it set Tony Stark on course for.

All of this combines to deliver what continues to be a masterpiece of cinema and sets a high bar for other MCU projects to rise to. Daredevil: Born Again’s nod back to where it all started, in a way that fits perfectly within its story, makes for a refreshing moment that feels like a rebirth for the MCU at large.

Release Date

March 4, 2025

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Dario Scardapane

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