Summary
- Daredevil: Born Again may feature Jessica Jones in a small role, but Kilgrave likely won't be able to the MCU in any capacity, as he was killed off in the Jessica Jones season 1 finale.
- Kingpin's interest in politics hints at a potential adaptation of the Marvel Comics storyline Devil's Reign, where Killgrave a.k.a. Purple Man helps Wilson Fisk persecute NYC superheroes.
- Elektra's ambiguous ending in Defenders opens the possibility for more resurrections using the Hand's substance, which could allow Kilgrave's to return in a future MCU installment.
The Daredevil: Born Again's cast also includes Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk and Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle. However, Daredevil, Kingpin, and the Punisher may not be the only Marvel-Netflix characters coming back, as one major Marvel actor has teased her return as well.
On January 30, 2024, the Echo finale's post-credits scene. In fact, Kingpin relies on a key Jessica Jones character to become NYC mayor in the comics, though it doesn't seem like the MCU will be able to adapt the story accurately.
Kilgrave Is Key To Kingpin’s Master Plan In Marvel Comics
Kingpin Uses Purple Man's Mind Control Abilities To Execute His Master Plan in Devil's Reign
Kingpin's interest in politics suggests the MCU will adapt the Marvel Comics storyline Devil's Reign, where Wilson Fisk persecutes all superheroes as soon as he becomes the mayor of New York City. To achieve it, Kingpin visits Zebediah Killgrave a.k.a. Purple Man and cuts one of his fingers. Fisk then embeds Killgrave's finger in his staff and uses its mind-controlling abilities to manipulate anyone who opposes his plans. Kingpin also employs Killgrave, Killgrave's children, Doctor Octopus, and the Thunderbolts to tyrannize the heroes and influence the whole city.
Even if the MCU had access to all the characters featured in Devil's Reign, it's unlikely that Kingpin's political campaign would rely on a mind-controlling staff and Kilgrave's children. However, David Tennant's Kevin Thompson a.k.a. Kilgrave could still play an important role, perhaps influencing citizens' opinions more subtly. A wider variety of targets would be a natural progression for Kilgrave after his long and self-destructive obsession with Jessica Jones. And besides thrilling, Jessica Jones' reunion with Kilgrave in the MCU's Devil's Reign would be faithful to the original storyline, where she's the one who unveils Kilgrave's contribution to Kingpin's plans.
Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones Already Killed Kilgrave
Killing Kilgrave Was The Only Way Jessica Jones Could Move On
In the Jessica Jones season 1 finale, Jessica breaks Kilgrave's neck after overcoming his mind control. Kilgrave's influence on Jessica's mind lingers for a while, but the villain himself remains unquestionably dead. Jessica Jones considers leaving her regular life behind and starting over somewhere else, but she ultimately decides to stay in order to make Kilgrave's death worth the effort. Now, Jessica Jones could be one of the heroes targeted by Kingpin in the MCU's Devil's Reign adaptation, free from the worry that Kilgrave will return to torment her once again.
Kingpin Already Holds An Impressive MCU Villain Record
Thanks to a key reveal, Wilson Fisk's Kingpin holds quite an impressive record over other established Marvel villains in the modern MCU era.
Kilgrave's death is a logical conclusion to Jessica Jones' main conflict. Unfortunately, Kilgrave's death also means that David Tennant's terrifying villain won't be able to factor in the MCU's street-level stories unless he appears inside Jessica Jones' mind as a reflection of her painful memories. Without him, the MCU will likely miss the chance to explore Kilgrave's alliance with Kingpin, as well as creative fight scenes between Kilgrave and other street-level characters such as the Punisher, Spider-Man, and Moon Knight.
In the comics, Zebediah Killgrave owes his "Purple Man" moniker due to his purple skin.
How David Tennant’s Kilgrave Can Return In The MCU
Netflix's Marvel Shows Established How Any Character Can Be Resurrected
Despite their grounded style, Marvel's now-canonized Netflix shows introduced several fantastical elements such as resurrection and dark magic. In Defenders, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist oppose the Hand's attempt to exploit "the substance", the main element in the creation of a resurrection elixir. Hidden within the bones of an underground dragon skeleton, a small amount of the substance allows Elektra to come back from the dead, though she's presumed dead after she fails to reach the dragon bones as the cave where they were located collapses.
The substance still exists underneath NYC and Elektra's death wasn't explicitly shown on screen. If Elektra and some surviving Hand managed to survive, they could have acquired at least a small amount of the substance before escaping. With a low profile and a new revenge plan, Elektra and the remaining Hand acolytes could consider resurrecting Kilgrave, one of New York’s most powerful and dangerous villains. If not to form an alliance with him, Elektra and the Hand could resurrect Kilgrave to study and acquire his powerful mind control abilities prior to Kingpin's mayor campaign in Daredevil: Born Again.
