Wondering why Spider-Man didn’t show up in Daredevil: Born Again’s explosive finale? Despite mounting chaos across New York City and multiple vigilantes joining forces against Fisk’s regime, the web-slinger remained noticeably absent. With legal restrictions and timeline theories in play, fans are asking why Peter Parker sat this one out.
Here’s what we know about Spider-Man’s absence from Daredevil: Born Again.
Why didn’t Spider-Man appear in Daredevil: Born Again’s finale?
Spider-Man did not appear in the Daredevil: Born Again finale due to legal and contractual limitations regarding character rights.
Brad Winderbaum, Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, said during an interview on Phase Hero: A Film & TV Podcast, “I think [Sony has] long-form television rights, I don’t know if that means he can show up. You can do like 30-minute animation I think.”
Winderbaum confirmed that Sony controls Spider-Man’s live-action television rights, which prevents him from appearing in Disney+ Marvel series. Although Spider-Man and Daredevil shared a scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Born Again included no follow-up interaction.
However, Jake Hamilton stated during a press junket, “Wilson Fisk makes a brief reference to a kid dressed like spider in the second episode,” marking a verbal acknowledgment of Spider-Man’s presence in the MCU.
Where was Spider-Man during Daredevil: Born Again’s finale?
Spider-Man’s absence coincided with a major crisis in New York City. In the Born Again finale, Wilson Fisk declares war on vigilantes and orders a crackdown via the Anti-Vigilante Task Force. Matt Murdock gathers a group of people to fight the Fisks at Josie’s Bar, while Frank Castle (The Punisher) fights in Red Hook. Fisk had previously said, “A dead hero is better than a live vigilante.”
Although Spider-Man is not shown, the context suggests he may have been handling parallel conflicts elsewhere in New York. The series depicts a citywide blackout, widespread violence, and multiple vigilantes targeted or killed. Fisk previously referenced a “man who dresses in a spider outfit,” establishing that Spider-Man exists within the timeline but is active off-screen.
No official statement from Marvel confirms Spider-Man’s in-universe location during the finale. However, the events of Avengers: Doomsday or the setup for Spider-Man 4 may overlap with the Born Again timeline, offering a possible chronological explanation.
