Daredevil: Born Again and Hawkeye are both part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and questions about their sequence are common for viewers tracking continuity. This relationship explainer clarifies whether Born Again takes place after Hawkeye, outlines each series’ placement within the larger MCU timeline, and highlights how their stories connect without conflating events. By examining production markers, narrative clues, and official statements, we can establish how these shows fit together and what audiences should expect when watching them in order.
MCU Disney+ Series Order 2021–2024
As more Disney+ series release, the MCU’s streaming timeline has become clearer, though not every gap is fully detailed on-screen. The following table offers a verified anchor for when key series were released and how their narratives align within the broader timeline.
Release and Narrative Position
| Series | Release Window | Approximate Narrative Placement | Key Dependencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| WandaVision | Jan 2021 | Early 2025, post-Endgame | Sets up Westview anomaly |
| The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Mar–Apr 2021 | Early 2025, shortly after WandaVision | Deals with aftermath of global Blip |
| Loki Season 1 | Jun–Jul 2021 | After Avengers: Endgame | Introduces Time Variance Authority |
| What If...? Season 1 | Aug 2021 | Alternate universe vignettes | Animated anthology, not linear |
| Hawkeye | Nov–Dec 2021 | Late 2024, around Christmas | Follows Blip recovery, references Ronin |
| Moon Knight | Mar–Apr 2022 | Post-Blip, ambiguous dates | Introduces Marc Spector and Steven Grant |
| Ms. Marvel | Jun–Jul 2022 | Mid-2025, post-Doc Samson | Kamala Khan’s powers emerge |
| She-Hulk | Aug 2022 | Post-Blip, legal comedy | Meta-commentary on MCU events |
| Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | May 2022 | Post-Blip, multiversal incursion | Multiverse expansion, Illuminati tease |
| Thor: Love and Thunder | Jul 2022 | Post-Blip, Asgardian politics | Gorr storyline, emotional closure for Thor |
| Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Nov 2022 | Post-Blip, national mourning | Shuri’s transition, Talokan introduction |
| Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Feb 2023 | Post-Blip, Quantum Realm deep dive | Kang variant introduction |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | May 2023 | Post-Blip, culmination of characters | Rocket’s backstory, end of original Guardians |
| Secret Invasion | Jun 2023 | Post-Blip, political thriller | Nick Fury’s return, Skrull tension |
| Echo | Jan 2024 | Post-Blip, Native American representation | Maya Lopez’s aftermath in New York |
| Daredevil: Born Again | Sep–Oct 2024 | Post-Blip, likely 2025–2026 | Revival of Kingpin and Fisk’s influence |
Daredevil: Born Again and Hawkeye Sequence
Within the current MCU Disney+ schedule, Daredevil: Born Again is positioned after Hawkeye. Hawkeye addresses the immediate aftermath of the Blip, focusing on Kate Bishop and Clint Barton’s dynamic, while Born Again is scheduled for 2024 and centers on Matt Murdock’s return to New York following personal and professional upheaval. The staggered release pattern suggests that each series preserves its narrative autonomy while contributing to a broader tapestry of recovery and rebuilding across the city. This separation allows characters to evolve independently before potential convergence in future storylines.
Canon Sources and Production Indicators
Marvel Studios and Disney have not published a master chart mapping every day between series, but several indicators clarify placement:
- Release windows: Hawkeye dropped in late 2021; Born Again is slated for 2024.
- Narrative cues: Hawkeye references Ronin and the trauma of the Blip; Born Again teases Kingpin’s resurgence and Daredevil’s renewed conflict with crime.
- Creative continuity: Producers have indicated Born Again will address the consequences of past events, including encounters with the Kingpin, without overwriting Hawkeye’s self-contained story.
Interpretation of "After"
When asking whether Born Again takes place after Hawkeye, the answer is yes within the intended viewing sequence, but "after" here refers to production and release order as much as in-universe chronology. Both shows inhabit the same rough era—post-Blip, pre-multiverse escalation—but they explore different facets of recovery and identity. Hawkeye deals with personal redemption and makes peace with the Ronin mantle; Born Again examines how trauma reshapes a hero’s moral code when the city he protects evolves around new threats.
Defining the Relationship Between the Series
Understanding how Daredevil: Born Again relates to Hawkeye requires separating narrative timeline from distribution strategy. In-universe, the gap between the two could span months, with events in one series potentially influencing off-screen developments that inform the other. Production timelines, however, ensure that audiences experience Hawkeye first, then Born Again, which aligns with a logical progression from personal healing to systemic confrontation.
Daredevil’s Character Arc Post-Absence
Born Again marks Daredevil’s return after a prolonged absence from live-action storytelling. His trajectory in the series is expected to address disillusionment with institutions, the weight of past choices, and the emergence of new adversaries who exploit the city’s vulnerabilities. This positions him as a seasoned figure reacting to a landscape subtly altered by events like the Blip and the rise of figures such as Kate Bishop and Echo.
Overarching Thematic Links
Both series engage with themes of identity, justice, and the cost of vigilance, but they approach these ideas from different angles. Hawkeye emphasizes found family and the possibility of moving forward; Born Again probes whether redemption is sustainable when corruption adapts. Their sequential placement supports a broader meditation on how individuals and communities rebuild after crisis without pretending that scars disappear entirely.
Audience Viewing Order Recommendation
To fully appreciate the evolving dynamics between characters like Hawkeye, Daredevil, and Kingpin—and to observe how plot threads initiated in one series inform conflicts in another—viewing in release order is advised. This approach preserves surprises, respects the pacing of character development, and aligns with the creators’ intention to build a cohesive, albeit decentralized, narrative experience across Disney+.
Optimal Watching Sequence
- Watch Hawkeye first to understand the post-Blip status quo and the introduction of Kate Bishop.
- Follow with other 2021–2023 series as desired for broader context (e.g., Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel).
- View Daredevil: Born Again after these entries to see how Matt Murdock responds to an altered landscape.
Key Differences in Focus and Tone
While both shows are grounded in street-level drama, their narrative priorities diverge in meaningful ways. Hawkeye is an ensemble piece that leans into humor, family dynamics, and a relatively contained conspiracy. Born Again, by contrast, returns to a darker, more introspective mode, examining institutional decay and the psychological toll of being a masked vigilante in an era of superpowered upheaval.
Tone Indicators
- Hawkeye: Lighthearted moments, family bonding, low-to-mid scale threats.
- Daredevil: Born Again: Grittier tone, mature moral questions, looming organized crime resurgence.
Canonical Implications of Watching Order
Viewing sequence does not alter the canonical status of either series, but it does shape how audiences interpret cause and effect. Seeing Hawkeye before Born Again allows viewers to recognize callbacks—such as mentions of Ronin or shifts in New York’s criminal landscape—that enrich Matt Murdock’s reentry into the city. This layered storytelling rewards attentive viewers without mandating strict continuity for enjoyment.
Conclusion
Daredevil: Born Again is positioned after Hawkeye both in release order and in the broader arc of recovery and adaptation within the MCU Disney+ lineup. The series will likely build upon the aftermath established by earlier shows while carving out its own space in the street-level canon. For viewers, watching Hawkeye first provides context, though each series remains designed to stand on its own while contributing to a larger, interconnected portrait of a world rebuilding after extraordinary disruption.