Everyone in the theater screamed. I remember the literal vibration of the floor when that brick flew through the window and a blind lawyer caught it without looking. It wasn't just a movie moment. It was a bridge. When we talk about Spider-Man No Way Home Daredevil appearances, we aren't just talking about a five-minute scene where Matt Murdock tells Peter Parker he’s a "really good lawyer." We are talking about the moment the Netflix "Defenders" universe officially crashed into the multi-billion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Honestly, it felt like a fever dream for years. Fans spent half a decade begging Kevin Feige to recognize Charlie Cox’s portrayal of the Man Without Fear. Then, in December 2021, it actually happened. But why does it still matter so much now? Because it wasn't just fanservice. It was a strategic pivot that redefined how Marvel handles its street-level heroes.
The Secret History of the Matt Murdock Cameo
The path to getting Matt Murdock into a Spider-Man suit—or at least a Spider-Man movie—was messy. You have to remember the corporate wall that existed between Marvel Studios and Marvel Television. They didn't really talk. For years, the "it’s all connected" tagline felt like a lie. When Netflix canceled Daredevil in 2018, there was a strict two-year "no-use" clause. Marvel couldn't touch the character until late 2020.
Timing is everything.
Production on No Way Home was ramping up exactly when that clock ran out. Tom Holland actually mentioned in interviews that they shot a version of the "legal advice" scene with a different character just in case the rights didn't clear in time. Can you imagine? Some random lawyer sitting there instead of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen? It wouldn't have worked. The weight of that scene comes from the history Charlie Cox brought with him from three seasons of gritty, prestige-style television.
The scene itself is deceptively simple. Peter, May, and Happy are sitting around a table, stressed out because Mysterio outed Peter’s identity. Matt Murdock sits there, calm as can be, explaining that while the murder charges might not stick, the court of public opinion is another beast entirely. Then, the brick. A protestor throws a brick through the window. Matt catches it behind his head.
🔗 Read more: How Old Is Paul Heyman? The Real Story of Wrestling’s Greatest Mind
"How did you do that?" Peter asks.
"I’m a really good lawyer," Matt replies.
That’s it. That is the Spider-Man No Way Home Daredevil moment. It’s short. It’s punchy. It’s perfect.
Why People Still Get the Context Wrong
There is a huge misconception that this was a "Multiverse" variant. It isn't. Or at least, Marvel has gone out of its way since then to suggest this is the same Matt Murdock we watched on Netflix. If he were a variant, the emotional payoff would be lower. The stakes of Daredevil: Born Again rely on us knowing this guy has already been through the ringer with Wilson Fisk.
People also forget how much pressure was on this specific cameo. No Way Home was already crowded. You had Tobey Maguire. You had Andrew Garfield. You had five villains from two different franchises. Adding Matt Murdock could have been the tipping point into "too much stuff." But Jon Watts, the director, kept it grounded. By making Matt the lawyer rather than a superhero ally in the final fight, the movie respected the character's dual identity. He didn't need to put on the horns to be Daredevil. He just needed to catch a brick.
The Connectivity Problem
Let's be real for a second. Marvel’s Disney+ shows have been a mixed bag. Some people love the high-concept stuff like Loki, while others miss the blood and dirt of the old Netflix era. The Spider-Man No Way Home Daredevil inclusion was a signal. It told the audience: "We heard you."
💡 You might also like: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
Since that cameo, we’ve seen Charlie Cox show up in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (in a much lighter, yellow-suited capacity) and Echo. Each appearance builds on that initial No Way Home seed. It proved that the MCU could handle different tones. You can have the cosmic stakes of a Peter Parker multiverse adventure and the legal drama of a blind lawyer in the same universe.
The Impact on Future Street-Level Stories
If Matt Murdock hadn't appeared in No Way Home, the current trajectory of the MCU would look very different. We probably wouldn't be getting an 18-episode first season of Born Again. We might not have seen Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) become the "Thanos of the street-level" in Hawkeye and Echo.
The chemistry between Peter Parker and Matt Murdock is something fans have wanted since the 1960s comics. In the books, they have one of the most interesting friendships in Marvel history. They both struggle with poverty. They both struggle with the weight of their secret identities. They are both New Yorkers to their core.
While we didn't get to see them swing through Queens together, the foundation is laid. The rumors for Spider-Man 4 are already swirling, and a huge chunk of the fanbase is demanding a team-up. Whether that happens or not, the Spider-Man No Way Home Daredevil scene served as the ultimate proof of concept.
What You Need to Know About the "Brick" Scene
- It was filmed in secret: Charlie Cox had to wear a giant cloak to the set so nobody would see him.
- The catch was real: Mostly. It was a mix of practical timing and slight digital cleanup, but the physical movement was all Cox.
- The dialogue was tight: There were longer versions of the legal jargon, but the filmmakers realized the audience only cared about the reveal.
Moving Beyond the Cameo
Look, cameos are usually cheap. They’re "hey, I know that guy!" moments that lose their flavor after the first watch. But this was different. It validated the time fans spent watching 39 episodes of a show that Disney had previously tried to distance itself from.
📖 Related: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
The inclusion of Spider-Man No Way Home Daredevil signaled a return to form for Marvel’s darker side. It wasn't just a nod; it was an invitation. It told us that the world is bigger than just the Avengers. It told us that there are heroes in the shadows, dealing with lawyers and bricks and public opinion, while the "big guys" are fighting aliens in space.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into why this matters, you should go back and watch the Netflix series again. See the darkness Matt Murdock comes from. Then, re-watch that scene in No Way Home. The contrast is striking. He’s a man who has seen (figuratively) the worst of humanity, yet he’s willing to sit in a cramped apartment and help a kid who’s being bullied by the world. That’s the core of the character.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you want to track the evolution of this crossover or get the most out of the Daredevil/Spider-Man connection, here is what you should actually do:
- Read "The Death of Jean DeWolff": This is the quintessential Spider-Man/Daredevil comic arc. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it shows why these two need each other. It’ll give you way more context than any YouTube breakdown.
- Watch the She-Hulk Episode "Ribbit and Rip It": This shows the "post-No Way Home" version of Matt. It’s a different vibe, but it’s the same guy, and it’s crucial for understanding how he fits into the modern MCU.
- Track the Daredevil: Born Again production news: Specifically, look for mentions of "Muse" or "White Tiger." These characters bridge the gap between the legal drama and the superhero action that started in the Parker apartment.
- Audit the "Spider-Man 4" rumors with skepticism: Everyone says Daredevil is the co-lead. Maybe. But remember that Sony owns the movie rights to Spidey, and Disney owns Daredevil. The "legal catch" in No Way Home was a miracle of paperwork as much as it was a miracle of casting.
The Spider-Man No Way Home Daredevil moment was a rare instance of a giant corporation giving the people exactly what they wanted without overstaying its welcome. It was brief, it was impactful, and it changed the map of the MCU. Keep an eye on the streets of the MCU; things are getting a lot more interesting now that the lawyers have arrived.