Did the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer just feature Matt Murdock? And is that the version played by Charlie Cox in Netflix’s Daredevil series? Those are the questions fans are asking based on a popular theory doing the rounds that claims Murdock may have just been spotted in the No Way Home teaser trailer. I’ll both mention the theory and expand on it.
First, here’s the still featuring the relevant segment of the trailer which contains the guy thought to be Murdock. It occurs at the 00:30 second mark and has a guy in a suit slamming a file on a table. It’s a sequence where two cops or detectives are interrogating Peter Parker after the revelation that he’s been Spider-Man all along.
One of the main reasons why folks believe this could be Murdock, aside from the person’s physique is the hairy arms, which seem to resemble those of Cox. His suit and flat, plain tie also bear a striking resemblance to Murdock’s attire from Netflix’s Daredevil. I, however, have another observation to add to this: the direction and the jaw line.
First, the man slams the file with his body positioned 90 degrees across Peter Parker. He could either be looking straight at his other colleague or, he could be blind meaning he doesn’t have the best sense of direction. If so, he would therefore look past most people, which is how he appears to be looking at Parker. Observe for instance, the similarities in the person’s structure, outfit and tone in the above and below image, the one below being a still from the Netflix show.
Second, observe his jawline. It seems to be facing straight to the other side and not Parker. This is indicative of someone who, even while slamming the file to his desk, is looking straight up. There’s a very strong chance that a regular cop wouldn’t do this: they’d either look down or at Parker. The person’s body postures suggest he could be blind in which case, he could indeed be Matt Murdock.
Now, I know, this is too much to conclude from a single shot. But that’s the kind of speculation and theorizing that’s supremely fun leading up to a big-budget blockbuster’s release. If there’s a sliver of chance that this person could be Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock reprising his role from Daredevil, I most certainly will take it.
Meanwhile, I want to hear from you. Is this theory ridiculously bonkers? Or does it make a modicum of sense? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on December 17, 2021. Check out my breakdown of the trailer as well as my review of Daredevil Season 3, which is when we last saw Cox before the series was cancelled.