Over the past few days, Steven DeKnight, the showrunner behind Netflix's Daredevil series, has been calling out Disney for a "scam" that may be continuing with Daredevil: Born Again – and it’s all in the name.
Speaking more in a message to IGN, he’s adamant to clarify that his issue with Born Again isn’t a creative one – in fact, he tells us he’s “excited for the show and support[s] the new creative team 100%.” It’s the fact that Disney may be skirting union pay bumps by renaming series and calling them new ones.
Basically, crew members with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) get full benefits, including vacation and holiday pay, after working on a show for three seasons. However, if the studio gives the show a new name – like, say, going from Daredevil to Daredevil: Born Again, or other Disney Channel examples that he cites – it would essentially restart the terms of the contract.
“It’s an old Disney scam where they slightly rename a series to reset contract terms back to first season,” DeKnight wrote on social media platform X/Twitter. “Needs to be addressed by all the guilds/unions and crushed!”
He does. It’s an old Disney scam where they slightly rename a series to reset contract terms back to first season. Needs to be addressed by all the guilds/unions and crushed! https://t.co/Ttj4A3tnE4
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 18, 2023
From what DeKnight understands, he’s “not going to see a penny from Daredevil: Born Again because they added the ‘Born Again’ and can claim it’s a completely different show. You know, with the exact same two lead actors (who I love!) playing Daredevil and Fisk.”
Oh it’s a sure thing. From what I understand, I’m not going to see a penny from Daredevil: Born Again because they added the “Born Again” and can claim it’s a completely different show. You know, with the exact same two lead actors (who I love!) playing Daredevil and Fisk. https://t.co/hEKxwgbocz
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 19, 2023
Responding to a message from IGN from the picket lines on Friday amid the ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike, DeKnight reiterated that his issue was purely about the “name game that Disney has played for years now on the Disney Channel shows and how that robs the crews of contractual bumps after the third season of a series.”
“They’ve done this so many times now it’s hard to count,” he added.
He pointed to several examples, including going from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody to The Suite Life on Deck after three seasons, Liv & Maddie to Liv & Maddie: Cali Style after four seasons, and Hannah Montana to Hannah Montana Forever after four. He added that he heard they tried to do something similar with Wizards of Waverly Place, but star Selena Gomez pushed back.
He added that he ultimately has “no idea if Daredevil: Born Again will have any continuity with the original show, but Charlie Cox and Vincent D'onofrio (who I both ADORE) returning as Daredevil and Wilson Fisk sure seems to indicate some creative teether to the Netflix series.”
“But again, Daredevil: Born Again is a complete side issue as far as I'm concerned,” he added. “I'm more interested in how this has been allowed to go on so long with the Disney Channel shows. It just smacks of corporate shenanigans and wage theft of the highest order. Really needs to be addressed.”
Disney has not yet responded to IGN’s request for comment.
Daredevil: Born Again was scheduled to debut on Disney+ sometime next year, although it’s currently on hold amid the ongoing Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes. The WGA, though, is currently at the negotiating table with the studios; check out everything we know about the talks here.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
