Movies News Talk
Despite the mixed reception of 2003's Daredevil, 20th Century Fox decided to move forward with a spin-off focusing on Elektra. This decision was made in lieu of a Daredevil sequel, which Ben Affleck had expressed interest in but only if it adopted a darker tone. While Daredevil was considered a disappointment by some, it actually had a strong opening weekend and recouped its budget. It did, however, earn less than double its budget, making a sprawling franchise questionable.
Elektra, released in 2005, faced even harsher criticism than its predecessor. The film received negative reviews, with critics pointing to its bland plot, uninspired action sequences, and failure to capture the depth of the source material. Jennifer Garner's performance was praised for her effort, but ultimately, the poorly constructed narrative and direction held the film back. Financially, Elektra's performance was a stark contrast to Daredevil, grossing only $56 million worldwide against a production budget of $43 million. This underwhelming performance effectively ended hopes for a continuation of the Daredevil franchise.
Jennifer Garner's cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine offered a fresh take on Elektra, showcasing her as a formidable and enigmatic figure. The film provided a much-needed improvement on the action sequences, showcasing Elektra's lethal skills in a way that the 2005 film failed to achieve. The tone of Deadpool & Wolverine also allowed Elektra's serious nature to shine, contrasting her stoicism against the film's trademark humor and irreverence.
Jennifer Garner has been open about her dislike for the Elektra film, describing it as "awful" while it was still in production. She reportedly encouraged her friends not to watch it. Garner attributes the missed opportunities of both Daredevil and Elektra to the lack of involvement from Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She believes that Feige's vision and leadership have significantly elevated the quality and coherence of superhero films, something that was absent in the early 2000s adaptations of Marvel properties.
Daredevil, while often retrospectively considered a flop, actually had a relatively successful initial performance. It opened to a strong $40.5 million in its opening weekend and went on to gross $179.1 million worldwide against a production budget of $78 million. While these figures may not be as impressive as the monumental successes of the MCU films, they were respectable at the time. Daredevil managed to earn back more than double its budget, which is a key metric in determining a film's financial success. However, it wasn't quite enough to justify a sprawling franchise.
Ben Affleck's stipulation for a darker tone in a potential Daredevil sequel highlights a missed opportunity. A grittier, more mature Daredevil 2 could have potentially resonated better with the evolving tastes of superhero film audiences who were beginning to embrace more complex and nuanced portrayals. The Daredevil franchise ultimately stalled until the triumphant Netflix series, which adopted the darker, grittier tone that Affleck had wanted for Daredevil 2.