The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.As someone who gets to see the future unfold in research and development labs around the world, Ive grown comfortable with our global food landscape constantly evolving. Part of the fun!Anticipating the trends that shape this evolution isnt just importantits essential. First, there are macro trends that continue each year and cant be ignored. By 2030, our global population will increase to 8.6 billion. This growing population needs more food, and we need to find new ways to meet this need with less impact to our planet.This requires innovation and building resilient food supply chains to connect people and families around the world to the nutrition they need and the food they love.In addition, new dynamics are reshaping consumer behavior and market demands at a rapid pace. Here is a glimpse of the top food trends and the innovations that are poised to redefine the food landscape in 2025.1. Health and nutrition: Food gets more personalAs health consciousness grows, consumers are aligning eating habits with wellness goals. While high protein diets and mindful eating still top the list, calorie reduction is quickly taking center stage. GLP-1 weight management medications can help reduce overall calorie consumption, but theyll also push demand for nutrient-dense, protein-rich and gut health-focused foods. This evolving landscape calls for targeted innovations to meet these tailored consumer needs.Functional foods that cater to individual health objectives are also surging. Consumers want personalized nutrition and ingredients with benefits like immunity promotion, mental clarity, and gut health.And lets not forget the reigning king of macronutrients: protein. From savory snacks to hearty meals, consumers continue to prioritize protein throughout the day. Whether its steak, chicken, seafood, plant-based alternatives, mycoproteins, or dairy, companies are adjusting offerings to meet diverse preferences.2. Value redefined: The rise of at-home premiumizationInflation and rising food costs have consumers balancing premium experiences and taste with perceived value. Consumers are prioritizing affordable indulgences. Our research shows that 77% are reducing their restaurant spending, while 46% are still eating premium treats at home. From private label options to smaller serving sizes and packaging, brands are looking to maintain quality while catering to budget-conscious shoppers desire for premium experiences at home.That includes partnerships with foodservice operators and retailers to ensure that premium products, recipes, and more are accessible for dine-in or at-home experiences. One example is the Sams Club prime rib sliders, which quickly became a popular shelf staple in the U.S. We also see this expanding to bold, multicultural tastes that resonate with the culinary curious around the world.3. Indulgence without compromiseConsumers are craving treats that satisfy indulgent desires without sacrificing health. While there will always be those moments to fully indulgeusually holidays and celebrationswere seeing a trend toward healthier choices for the every day.Globally, more than 20% of people actively seek foods lower in salt, sugar and fat, with the percentage increasing with age. For example, PepsiCo recently reduced saturated fat in Lays potato chips in China by 50%. Consumers are also reducing sugar intake, with 66% of Americans trying to limit sugars. Innovative sweeteners that offer a choice for reduced and zero calorie food and beverages are becoming more popular, ranging from sports drinks, soda, and coffee to baked goods and ice cream.4. Food tech: Revolutionize innovation through generative AIGenerative AI isnt just a buzzword; its revolutionizing food development and operations. McKinsey estimates GenAI could add $2.6 to $4.4 trillion of global productivity annually, with $40-70 billion to come from agriculture. Thats why were investing and adopting new technologies that can safely support our people and deliver results.At Cargill, were piloting AI-driven research tools to accelerate knowledge sharing and product development. Our teams use AI to aid in everything from optimizing fermentation enzymes to microbiome assessments and ingredient reformulations, to help bring new solutions to market more quickly, using ingredients that meet fast-changing consumer preferences and supply challenges.Shaping tomorrows tableThe food industrys transformation in 2025 is brimming with potential. New consumer trends are pushing innovators to deliver solutions that meet these health, nutrition, convenience, and indulgence trends with tastes and flavors that consumers love.And while trends may adjust year to year, Im a strong believer that it takes an ecosystem approach to make these solutions possible at a global scale. Partnerships are needed across the food supply chain, starting with farmers, and connecting to food favorites that show up in restaurants and on the grocery shelf. This intersection of new food innovations that can meet our growing populations needs around the world is what excites me most about the future of food.Florian Schattenmann is CTO and vice president of R&D and innovation at Cargill.

Over the past two weeks, a series of actions by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has seemed to validate the concerns of those who warned about having an outspoken vaccine skeptic in the nations leading health role. As the U.S. experiences its worst flu season in more than a decade, a multistate measles outbreak, and surging cases of avian flu in poultry, dairy cattle, and people, federal agencies under Kennedys command have put the brakes on key initiatives designed to protect us against these very problems.On February 20, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed the postponement of a scheduled March 13 meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an expert panel that develops national vaccine recommendations. On February 27, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed that an upcoming meeting of an independent advisory panel that recommends which variant of the seasonal flu vaccine should be produced was canceled. The same week, Bloomberg broke the news that HHS is reevaluating a $590 million contract with Moderna for the development of an mRNA vaccines for bird flu that was granted in the last days of the Biden administration.Fast Company spoke, on record and on background, with experts in industry, government, and public health about the potential impact of impact of these decisions nowand in the future.Will drugmakers know what flu vaccine to make next year?Heres the good news. The flu vaccine strain selection is part of a global process led by the World Health Organization, says Rick Bright, who served as director of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an agency within HHS, from 2016 to 2020. Bright explains that after the WHOs annual meeting to determine the next years flu strain, the U.S. government holds a duplicate meeting to where theyconsistently endorse he same strain selection.If the FDA were to come through a month after the WHO meeting and say, we would prefer to have a different strain, it would be a significant delay because the manufacturer would have to make a specific vaccine just for the United States, says Bright. Thats never happened and never will.The WHO announced itsnorthern hemisphere recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 20252026 flu season on February 28, which the WHO says were informed by input from the CDC. (President Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO, but it wont go into effect until January 2026.)We have already begun production for the 20252026 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere and will be ready to support final strain selections in time for the season, said a spokesperson for Sanofi, the largest seasonal flu vaccine manufacturer globally, via an emailed statement.Even without the meeting, there still seems to be some form of guidance coming from the U.S. government. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon has stated that the FDA will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 20252026 influenza season. A spokesperson for GlaxoSmithKline, a major producer of flu vaccines, said via email: We continue to work with the FDA on its flu strain recommendation for the U.S.Will there be delays in other vaccines?The postponement of the February meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) set off alarms among health experts, prompting an open letter from the nonprofit Partnership to Fight Infectious Diseases. Signed by dozens of medical associations, advocacy groups, and leaders in medicine and public health, the letter calls for the meeting to be rescheduled to ensure Americans receive the information needed to protect themselves against vaccine-preventable illnesses, confirming immunizations importance in the mission to make America healthier. The American Academy of Pediatrics joined the call for prompt rescheduling. Were alarmed that the meeting has been postponed, particularly in one of the worst flu seasons in years, AAP presidentSusan J. Kressly, MD announced. The AAP relies on this information when forming our own recommendations for child and adolescent vaccine schedules. The meeting delay could also impact the ability of insurers to make coverage decisions about vaccines for the coming year, a process that often begins in the spring. A draft agenda for the meeting included votes on new meningococcal, chikungunya, flu, and RSV vaccines, and discussion of an FDA-approved influenza nasal spray.According to a statement on the ACIP website, the meeting was postponed to accommodate public comment in advance of the meeting, and ACIP workgroups met as scheduled this month and will present at the upcoming ACIP meeting. When that meeting will happen isnt cleara new meeting date has not been announced. (Politicohas reported that Kennedy is considering removing members for alleged conflicts of interest.) Its also worth noting thatthe ACIP meeting information page has no updated instructions or the required docket number for submitting a public comment.Drugmakers are expressing confidence they can continue to deliver vaccines in timeat least for now. The 2025 Immunization Schedules approved by ACIP were adopted by the CDC last October. Its important to note that this does not affect current CDC recommendations for available vaccines, a spokesperson for Pfizer said via email. We will be prepared to address any future ACIP agenda items pertaining toPfizerwhen the meeting is rescheduled.Whats happening with bird flu vaccines?Variants of H5N1 highly pathogenic bird flu have moved from poultry to dairy cattle in 17 states. And there are now 70 confirmed cases in people. So far, the virus has not been transmitted from person to person. But if that happens, were going to want a vaccine right away. Will we have one at the ready?There are currently three licensed H5N1 vaccinesmade by GSK, CSL Seqirus, and Sanofi. The GSK and Sanofi vaccines are made in eggs. The CSL vaccine is produced by growing viruses in cell culture. There is a stockpile of these vaccines, but none are currently available commercially, andnone of it is matched to the most recently circulating strains of the virus, says Bright. If a pandemic were to take off, they would need to refresh and update those vaccines and using the egg-based technology, it would take six to nine months to make that new strain to get it out on the street.As we saw during COVID, mRNA-based vaccines can quickly target new virus variants, and are much faster to produce. With support from BARDA, Moderna has been developing an mRNA-based vaccine for avian flu for the past several years. That vaccine candidate is on the verge of entering pivotal Phase 3 trials. So, it was a surprise when last week, Bloomberg reported that the government was reviewing a nearly $600 million contract with Moderna, signed in the last days of the Biden administration. The funding was intended to to help the company develop and test its H5N1 vaccine and vaccines for four other subtypes of pandemic-potential influenza. (Currently, there are no mRNA-based flu vaccines.) Four years of the Biden administrations failed oversight have made it necessary to review agreements for vaccine production, Andrew Nixon, the HHS director of communications, told Stat, to explain the contract review.If the funding goes away, I dont see Moderna pursuing this, says a source familiar with BARDAs drug-development partnerships. Theres no other purchaser for avian flu vaccine.JonathanKagan, the scientific cofounder and president of Corner Therapeutics, a biotech developing mRNA-based immunotherapies for cancer, says, if I were in the business of making an infectious disease vaccine, I would be sweating a lot more about what happens with Moderna. They are a bellwether, a canary in a coal mine. (A spokesperson for Moderna had no comment on the contract review.)Its worth noting thatPfizer is also developing an mRNA based avian flu vaccine, now in a Phase 1 study. Kagan and others are hopeful that if U.S. funding goes away, a well-funded international nonprofitThe Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi, UNICEF, Wellcome Trust, or the Gates Foundationmight step in to maintain the momentum. And the review could be just a review.However, says Bright, everything that this new administrations done in the first month regarding H5N1 indicates they dont take this threat seriously. Theyll be flat-faced when they see this virus take hold and start spreading human to human. Within weeks of a human-to-human transmission of H5N1, they will tuck their tails and run.

Slim laptops and tablets dazzle with their sleek profiles but leave us scrambling for connectivity options when we need them most! Your gorgeous MacBook might turn heads at the coffee shop, but try connecting your external monitor, hard drive, and card reader simultaneously suddenly that beautiful machine feels frustratingly limited. Desks become battlegrounds of adapter chaos, with tangled cables snaking across surfaces and workflow grinding to a halt every time you need to swap one peripheral for another.Enter the CASA Hub Pro S your digital Swiss Army knife that transforms a single USB-C port into twelve powerful connection possibilities! This connectivity powerhouse doesnt just solve your port problems but also it revolutionizes how you interact with your devices. Imagine plugging in one sleek connector and instantly gaining access to every peripheral you own. No more digging through cable bags or playing musical chairs with your adapters everything connects at once through this brilliantly designed hub.Designer: ADAM Elements.Click Here to Buy Now: $81.75 $109 (25% off, use coupon code 25YANKOHPROS). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The gorgeous aluminum body of the CASA Hub Pro S feels substantial in your hand while remaining remarkably portable. Unlike bulky docking stations that dominate desk space, this hubs innovative vertical stand design creates a minimal footprint while maximizing accessibility. The thoughtfully textured anti-slip base grips your desk surface firmly, eliminating that maddening moment when your entire hub slides away as you try to disconnect a single device a small detail that saves enormous frustration during daily use.Twelve meticulously arranged ports transform your digital workspace into a connectivity command center! The front panel puts your most frequently accessed connections right at your fingertips three USB-A ports for legacy devices, two lightning-fast USB-C connections, and card reader slots for photographers and content creators. The cleverly designed back panel keeps semi-permanent cables like HDMI, Ethernet, and power delivery neatly organized and out of sight, creating a clean workspace that feels intentionally designed rather than chaotically cobbled together.Watch your productivity skyrocket with the hubs multi-display capabilities that turn your laptop into a professional workstation! The advanced DisplayPort 1.4 technology supports three simultaneous external displays with stunning 4K resolution at 60Hz when properly configured. Graphic designers can spread color palettes across one screen while working on detailed illustrations on another. Video editors can maintain full-screen previews while keeping timelines and assets visible. Multitaskers can finally stop the endless window-switching that fragments focus and disrupts creative flow.Power users rejoice the CASA Hub Pro S delivers 100W pass-through charging that keeps your devices running at full capacity! No more watching battery percentages drop while using external displays or transferring large files. Data flies between devices at blazing 5Gbps speeds through optimized USB connections. The dedicated Gigabit Ethernet port provides rock-solid internet connectivity for video conferences, large file uploads, and competitive gaming where wireless simply cant deliver the consistent performance you demand from your professional setup.Apple enthusiasts and Windows power users alike find their perfect connectivity companion in the CASA Hub Pro S! The hub seamlessly integrates with the latest M4 and M3 MacBooks and iPads while maintaining backward compatibility with previous M-series devices. Windows users unlock the full potential of multi-display workspaces through the hubs advanced DisplayPort implementation. Cross-platform professionals can finally standardize on a single connectivity solution that performs flawlessly regardless of which operating system theyre currently using true versatility for todays flexible work environments.Built to outlast your devices, the CASA Hub Pro S incorporates sophisticated electromagnetic shielding that protects both the hub and your valuable connected equipment. The reinforced connector and premium braided cable withstand thousands of connection cycles without degradation. Unlike disposable hubs that fail within months, this professional-grade tool comes backed by an impressive three-year warranty that demonstrates the manufacturers confidence in their products durability and performance under demanding daily use.Smart professionals recognize the extraordinary value packed into this premium connectivity solution! Rather than cluttering your workspace and bag with half a dozen single-purpose adapters, the CASA Hub Pro S consolidates everything into one elegant package. The vertical design reclaims precious desk real estate while the thoughtful port arrangement eliminates cable clutter. For creative professionals, consultants, and anyone whose income depends on efficient workflow, this hub pays for itself through enhanced productivity and reduced frustration during critical project work.Click Here to Buy Now: $81.75 $109 (25% off, use coupon code 25YANKOHPROS). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The post The CASA Hub Pro S: A Stylish 12-in-1 Multi-functional Hub for Modern Workspaces first appeared on Yanko Design.

Spring into the new season by snagging one of the four new colors of Apple's new MagSafe-compatible iPhone 16 Silicone Cases.Apple's new cases in periwinkle, peony, aquamarine, and tangerineAs part of its spring refresh, Apple has updated its Phone 16 Silicone Case with MagSafe to include new, cheery colors. The four new include periwinkle, peony, aquamarine, and tangerine.Previously, you could get the cases in eight other colors. The collection included black, Stone Gray, Lake Green, denim, ultramarine, fuchsia, plum, and star fruit. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A new collection of color-matched Smart Folios has been launched alongside Apple's brand-new base-model iPad.Apple's new iPad Folio lineup in Sky, White, Watermelon, and LemonadeOn Tuesday, Apple updated its base-model, 11-inch iPad with the A16 chip and double the base storage. And, to celebrate, it's also released a collection of new Smart Folios to go with it.The folios are available in four colors. This includes Sky, White, Watermelon, and Lemonade, or blue, white, pink, and yellow, respectively. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 is real and out this Summer with the Standard Edition retailing for $49.99 with access to previous and current-gen versions on consoles. The $69.99 Digital Deluxe Edition will likely turn more heads since it includes the Doom Slayer and Revenant from the DOOM series as playable skaters. Check them out in the trailer below.Each character has two unique special tricks (including the Revenants classic doot), while the Slayer gets the Unmakyr Hoverboard. You can also listen to tunes from the original and contemporary titles and customize your skate decks with DOOM-themed designs. Some cosmetics for customizing your Create-A-Skater are also included.If that wasnt enough, Digital Deluxe (and Collectors) Edition owners get three days of early access to the title. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on July 11th or Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more gameplay in the coming months.

Modern bioinformatics research is characterized by the constant emergence of complex data sources and analytical challenges. Researchers routinely confront tasks that require the synthesis of diverse datasets, the execution of iterative analyses, and the interpretation of subtle biological signals. High-throughput sequencing, multi-dimensional imaging, and other advanced data collection techniques contribute to an environment where traditional, simplistic evaluation methods fall short. Current benchmarks for artificial intelligence often emphasize recall or limited multiple-choice formats, which do not fully capture the nuanced, multi-step nature of real-world scientific investigations. As a result, despite progress in many areas of AI, there remains a critical need for methods that more accurately reflect the iterative and exploratory process that defines bioinformatics.Introducing BixBench A Thoughtful Approach to BenchmarkingIn response to these challenges, researchers from FutureHouse and ScienceMachine have developed BixBencha benchmark designed to evaluate AI agents on tasks that closely mirror the demands of bioinformatics. BixBench comprises 53 analytical scenarios, each carefully assembled by experts in the field, along with nearly 300 open-answer questions that require a detailed and context-sensitive response. The design process for BixBench involved experienced bioinformaticians reproducing data analyses from published studies. These reproduced analyses, organized into analysis capsules, serve as the foundation for generating questions that require thoughtful, multi-step reasoning rather than simple memorization. This method ensures that the benchmark reflects the complexity of real-world data analysis, offering a robust environment to assess how well AI agents can understand and execute intricate bioinformatics tasks.Technical Aspects and Advantages of BixBenchBixBench is structured around the idea of analysis capsules, which encapsulate a research hypothesis, associated input data, and the code used to carry out the analysis. Each capsule is constructed using interactive Jupyter notebooks, promoting reproducibility and mirroring everyday practices in bioinformatics research. The process of capsule creation involves several steps: from initial development and expert review to automated generation of multiple questions using advanced language models. This multi-tiered approach helps ensure that each question accurately reflects a complex analytical challenge.In addition, BixBench is integrated with the Aviary agent framework, a controlled evaluation environment that supports essential tasks such as code editing, data directory exploration, and answer submission. This integration allows AI agents to follow a process that is similar to that of a human bioinformaticianexploring data, iterating over analyses, and refining conclusions. The careful design of BixBench means that it not only tests the ability of an AI to generate correct answers, but also its capacity to navigate through a series of complex, interrelated tasks.Insights from the BixBench EvaluationWhen current AI models were evaluated using BixBench, the results underscored the significant challenges that remain in developing robust data analysis agents. In tests conducted with two advanced modelsGPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnetthe open-answer tasks yielded an accuracy of approximately 17% at best. When the models were presented with multiple-choice questions derived from the same analysis capsules, their performance was only marginally better than random selection.These outcomes highlight a persistent difficulty: current models struggle with the layered nature of real-world bioinformatics challenges. Issues such as interpreting complex plots and managing diverse data formats remain problematic. Furthermore, the evaluation involved multiple iterations to capture the variability in each models performance, revealing that even slight changes in task execution can lead to divergent results. Such findings suggest that while modern AI systems have advanced in code generation and basic data manipulation, they still have considerable room for improvement when tasked with the subtle and iterative process of scientific inquiry.Conclusion Reflections on the Path ForwardBixBench represents a measured step forward in our efforts to create more realistic benchmarks for AI in scientific data analysis. This benchmark, with its 53 analytical scenarios and close to 300 associated questions, offers a framework that is well aligned with the challenges of bioinformatics. It assesses not just the ability to recall information, but the capacity to engage in multi-step analysis and to produce insights that are directly relevant to scientific research.The current performance of AI models on BixBench suggests that there is significant work ahead before these systems can be relied upon to perform autonomous data analysis at a level comparable to expert bioinformaticians. Nonetheless, the insights gained from BixBench provide a clear direction for future research. By focusing on the iterative and exploratory nature of data analysis, BixBench encourages the development of AI agents that can not only answer predefined questions but also support the discovery of new scientific insights through thoughtful, step-by-step reasoning.Check outthe Paper, Blog and Dataset.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,feel free to follow us onTwitterand dont forget to join our80k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Step by Step Guide to Build an AI Research Assistant with Hugging Face SmolAgents: Automating Web Search and Article Summarization Using LLM-Powered Autonomous AgentsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Defog AI Open Sources Introspect: MIT-Licensed Deep-Research for Your Internal DataAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Building a Collaborative AI Workflow: Multi-Agent Summarization with CrewAI, crewai-tools, and Hugging Face TransformersAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/DeepSeek AI Releases Smallpond: A Lightweight Data Processing Framework Built on DuckDB and 3FS Recommended Open-Source AI Platform: IntellAgent is a An Open-Source Multi-Agent Framework to Evaluate Complex Conversational AI System' (Promoted)

How To Prompt GPT-4 For Super Streamlit Death Penalty Data Visuals 0 like March 4, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): John Loewen, PhD Originally published on Towards AI. Interactive Data Visuals with Python Streamlit, Plotly and GPT-4This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.With Python data visual design, there is a rapidly growing list of awesome tools that create wicked graphs and charts in record time.For example, by combining Pythons Streamlit and Plotly libraries you can easily design a simple prototype interface to explore shifts in global issues by country.To make it even easier, with now near-ubiquitous use of LLMs such as GPT-4, data scientists can simply prompt to generate working Python code for building these dashboards directly.Never has it been easier to create rapid prototypes to express data in deep and granular ways.Bringing death penalty data to life shows us where the world stands on one of the most controversial practices in the legal system. What are some of the trends over the years?Using this recently compiled dataset, lets prompt GPT-4 to create a multi-visual Streamlit app that tells us a story about global death penalty trends.NOTE: all files used in this article are on my Github: HERETo build our interactive dashboard, lets work with two primary datasets: the death penalty dataset and the COW-to-ISO mapping dataset.Together, these datasets combine the death penalty data and country boundaries, allowing us to represent Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Warning: Full spoilers follow for Daredevil: Born Again Episodes 1 and 2.Well, they did it. Many observant fans have been predicting this, and now its happened.They killed Foggy Nelson!Specifically, Wilson Bethels Dex Poindexter (thats Bullseye to comics readers) resurfaces in the opening minutes of Born Again and assassinates Foggy (Elden Henson), the best friend and longtime law partner of Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox). Foggy dies in Karen Pages (Deborah Ann Woll) arms, so that just when you thought the new Disney+ show was picking up right where the Netflix series left off, all of that goes straight out the (stained glass) window.I asked Cox and his Kingpin costar Vincent DOnofrio how they felt when they found out Foggy was doomed. The pair apparently had been heavily briefed by the Marvel military-industrial complex to keep that reveal very quiet.Oh, my God, says DOnofrio. It's so scary to mention that.When you said that, my heart just dropped, adds Cox.It's such a big deal, continues DOnofrio.More From Hell's KitchenThe Death of Foggy NelsonLook, on a personal level, it's devastating, explains Cox. It's also devastating from the show's perspective because there is so much that relationship, that dynamic, offers. And there's so many more stories to tell. So it's really sad, genuinely sad.There was, of course, a reason to kill the character off, however. Unfortunately, there's a lot of stories that his death does offer, says DOnofrio.Born Again has been in the works for years at this point, with a well-publicized behind-the-scenes shift in creative direction that saw new directors and a new showrunner being brought in. The idea of bringing back Foggy and then killing the character was first presented to Cox around late 2022 or early 2023, and the actor thinks that while viewers are going to be troubled by Foggys fate, it is a great catalyst for the new show.It's been six years since we've made the [Netflix] show. We have to have a reason for remaking the show. You've got to be brave and bold. -Charlie CoxThe truth is, it's been six years since we've made the [Netflix] show, says Cox. We're coming in with an idea. We have to have a reason for remaking the show. You've got to be brave and bold. And we had this great idea, or the writers had this great idea, about Matt really swearing off the suit entirely, which is the reverse of the last season we had over on Netflix. But in order to do that, there's got to be a real reason. It can't just be anything. It has to be a bombshell.Showrunner Dario Scardapane, who previously served as a producer and writer on the Netflix Punisher series, notes that in some ways the decision was kind of baked in because in the comic books both Foggy and Karen have died in the past. His curse is that his loved ones get caught up in this fight and die, says Scardapane of Daredevil.Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) in Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1.And at the end of the Netflix show, there are three names on a napkin, he continues. That is the dream that we go off into this world with. We pick up that dream and weve got to smash it apart. It was done super mindfully, and the thing is this is the inciting incident, not just for this entire series, but what goes into Season 2. It's massive. And we needed to give Matt something that broke apart his world inside and outside. And in many ways, Foggy was the conscience, Foggy was his Jiminy Cricket, and what happens when you don't have that touchstone? So it was cruel in many ways, but sometimes story is cruel.(And yes, Season 2 is currently shooting in New York City. There's already information about what we're about to start shooting in the second season that I had to have a little cry about, says DOnofrio. This show can be quite intense as an actor.)Wheres Karen Page, and Did Matt Murdock Go Too Far With Dex?As for Karen, she is estranged from Matt and living in San Francisco in the aftermath of Foggys death, but Scardapane says shes still very important to the show.Karen Page is the heart and soul of this universe and of this Daredevil mythology, and Karen's interaction with our story in this season and beyond is huge, says the showrunner. I can't give too much away, but families tend to fracture when a loved one passes. And in that fracture, they can re-bond in ways that are surprising and new. And that's what I think were going for.Karen (Deborah Ann Woll) and Matt (Charlie Cox).Of course, this all sends Matt into a spiral. When he realizes Foggy has died, he tosses Dex off of the rooftop where theyve been fighting. Dex, because of his superhuman abilities, doesnt die, but as Scardapane points out, Regardless of whether he did or didn't [kill Dex], he wanted to. So as a lapsed Catholic, the sin is in the desire as well as the action.The result is Matt no longer wants to be Daredevil, which is a very dramatic scenario for the character, but also a challenge for the filmmakers who now have a superhero character who doesnt want to wear a costume or fight bad guys.That was actually the fun part, for lack of a better word, laughs Scardapane. For a chunk of this, it is Matt holding Daredevil at bay, and then there is a turning point and then things change and we track that the whole way. And what's funny is if you're paying really strict attention, the same thing's going on with our villain. So these two men actually are catalysts for each other. They bring out the best and the worst in each other, and that's what we tried to track through this. So there's still action. And if Matt Murdock's throwing a punch, is Matt Murdock throwing the punch or is Daredevil throwing the punch? And [stunt coordinator and second unit director] Phil [Silvera] and [stuntman] Dave Macomber did a really good job in the action of, Oh, that's Daredevil, right? Right.PlayAbout That Punisher TattooAt the end of Episode 2, Matt finds himself up against the dirty cops who have framed White Tiger (played by the late Kamar de los Reyes, who is great in the role). A very Matt Murdock fight scene takes place (Oh, thats Daredevil, right?), but during it, Matt notices a tattoo on one of the cops arms a variation on Frank Castles iconic Punisher skull symbol.We already know that Jon Bernthal is reprising his role in Daredevil as the Punisher, soYes, that tattoo should be a hint, says Scardapane. There is a Frank Castle storyline that is, I think, deep and rich and has been begging to be told. It was in one of the comics, but Frank's appearance is not random. It comes back to [the idea] of who is a vigilante, who's good, who's bad, and Frank is one of those incredibly galvanizing characters. Frank comes into our world with a purpose. That purpose is executed. Does it have something to do with these men that we see in that apartment? Yes.There is a Frank Castle storyline that is deep and rich and has been begging to be told. -Showrunner Dario ScardapaneIn reality, the characters skull logo has been used by some in the police and military, and Punisher co-creator Gerry Conway has spoken out against this in the past. As a result, this is a particularly salient topic for Daredevil: Born Again to introduce to the MCU.It's incredibly important to me, and I think it's incredibly important to Marvel, and I know it's incredibly important to Jon, says Scardapane of including the issue in the show. And that discussion and that dichotomy and the feelings, emotions, and conversation about that specific issue is tackled in this season. And I think it's tackled really well. And I think Jon in particular knows how to voice that discussion probably better than anybody.Well have to see where all of this goes as Daredevil: Born Again rolls out in the coming weeks. In the meantime, let us know what you thought of Foggys death and everything else in the comments!

Warning: this review contains full spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episodes 1 and 2!Marvel Televisions two-part premiere for Daredevil: Born Again starts with an all-time great superhero brawl, as if to assure fans that, yes, Daredevil is back just like you remember. The resurrected series is a worthy continuation of the Netflix show and picks up where season 3 left off, essentially making this retitled series a de facto season 4. No time is wasted as Charlie Coxs Matt Murdock is dealt a traumatic blow and faced with the unexpected return of his greatest nemesis, Wilson Fisk, once again played in bone-chilling fashion by Vincent D'onofrio. Though Born Again lacks some of the nuance of the original, and its story seems to be retreading some familiar ground, its new twist on the Murdock/Fisk rivalry makes it very much a devil of a good time.Things start on a relatively happy note for Murdock as he enjoys drinks with longtime friends Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, once again played by Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll, respectively. Its a law of nature that Matt Murdock cannot have sustained happiness, and its not long before all hell breaks loose thanks to a returned Benjamin Poindexter. This is Poindexter as we know him in the comics: Bullseye, the sociopathic costumed assassin who kills with whatever object is within reach. Watching him go toe-to-toe with Daredevil in a knock-down, drag-out fight employing razor-sharp knives and weaponized billiard balls feels like seeing a comic book come to life. That its all a seamless, one-shot sequence that tracks their movements through a bar and into the apartment building above makes it even more impressive. Its beyond sad watching Murdock lose his best friend Foggy after all theyve been through. And its truly surprising to see Murdock try to kill Bullseye given how he let Fisk live at the end of season 3. But if anything was going to push him to break his most important vow, it would be Foggys death. The tragedy sees Murdock abandon the mantle of Daredevil and fully commit to being a benevolent lawyer who doesnt go around punching criminals at night, which makes things all the more difficult when Fisk returns not as the Kingpin of crime but as something far more dangerous: a politician.Its this new dynamic of attorney Murdock versus Mayor Fisk that makes Born Again feel so exciting and unpredictable. The way the first episode closes with these two unstoppable forces on an inevitable collision course? Epic! Normally we have to wait a while before Murdock and Fisk share the screen, but Im glad we get right to the good stuff this time around. Watching these two longtime enemies have a civil conversation at a diner is a real treat. The tension is so high there may as well be a stick of lit dynamite on the table. Miraculously, they dont come to blows, and instead try to see the best in one another while also laying down some not-so-veiled threats. There might have been a time when a convicted felon winning a prominent political office would seem unrealistic but in 2025, it feels ripped from todays headlines. That said, the show sidesteps any specific real-world politics and instead focuses on exploring themes of empowering bullies and the responsibility one has to stand up to them. Daredevil: Born AgainWhile the story of public defender Murdock taking on Mayor Fisk is fresh and juicy, other elements of the story feel a bit stale. Didnt we already do a story about Murdock wanting to give up being Daredevil in season 3 of the Netflix show? The one thats partially based on the comic arc that gives Born Again its subtitle? The details of the situation are different here, but some of the bigger ideas being explored feel like a rehash. Maybe they should have called it Daredevil: Born Again Again.Theres a real sense of satisfaction when Born Again makes it known that its a genuine part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the years since we last saw this version of Daredevil, hes shown up in Spider-Man: No Way Home and on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Echo (where Fisk also appeared, following up D'onofrios encore of the character on Hawkeye). Now, Born Again even has Mayor Fisk making a reference to Spider-Man, something we thought was impossible only a few years ago. This may seem like a small thing to the casual viewer, but to longtime Marvel fans, it just feels good to see the Marvel Universe made whole. Curiously, even though dealing with New York Citys vigilante problem is the main plank of Mayor Fisks platform, theres no mention of the United Nations superhero regulation laws (a.k.a. the Sokovia Accords). Murdock did mention that the laws were repealed during his guest role on the She-Hulk series, but still, one would think Fisk would use the accords as a precedent to establish his version of law and order.What we said about Daredevil season 3PlayDaredevil: Season 3 kicks Marvel's Netflix slump to the side in favor of a dark and powerful rollercoaster of redemption that makes every scene count and brings back Wilson Fisk at Matt Murdock's white (suited) whale. Even new characters, whom we don't trust (or appreciate) at first, wind up paying off in rewarding ways while the show excels even more at ferocious fight scenes and astonishing action sequences. And preventing things from becoming a (trademark) treacherous trudge in the middle is the mystery of Fisk's full plan and questions about how much control he actually wields.Score: 9Read the complete Daredevil: Season 3 Review.The second episode of Born Again introduces us to a new vigilante called White Tiger (played by Kamar de los Reyes) who began operating in the time since Murdock retired his Daredevil persona. (The episode is dedicated to Reyes, who sadly passed away in 2023.) The story of Hector Ayala in the comic books is a complex one, and the show is so far doing a good job adapting his tragic case of wrongful imprisonment. And hearing Murdock chastise Ayala for going out at night looking for trouble as a vigilante is real rich. Whether he realizes it or not, handling this case is forcing Murdock to confront some things about himself, and it coats every exchange with an extra layer of meaning.Things come to a head when a pair of corrupt cops try to execute Murdock. Cox does a phenomenal job playing the escalation of this dire situation: You can see how much it genuinely pains Murdock knowing hes being forced to break his peaceful streak, and when he does, he absolutely explodes on those two poor guys and rips them to shreds with a horrifying savagery. That primal scream at the end? I felt that. This scene once again reinforces Marvels pledge to keep the show just as mature and violent as it was before, and boy will that bloody arm-break be keeping me up at night. PlayWhile the main thread about Murdock and Fisk is strong and compelling, there is a noticeable lack of interesting supporting characters so far not a Wesley or Agent Nadeem in sight. Its hard to feel invested in Murdocks detective friend or his new lawyer partner, who seem to exist merely to provide bits of exposition. Poindexter made for such a fascinating character study in season 3, yet here hes been reduced to a one-dimensional baddie and thats a bit of a letdown.There are still plenty of episodes to go for all that to be remedied, of course. A couple new faces do show some promise, such as Murdocks new romantic interest (who happens to be Fisks marriage therapist) and a young video journalist (who interviews Fisk not knowing he killed her uncle with his bare hands), so well have to wait and see how their stories develop. Regardless, Born Again feels properly nestled within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe while still maintaining Daredevils mature tone and fantastic lead performances and at the onset, getting that right is what matters most.Other ThoughtsIts a tad hard to see because of the darkness of the opening fight scene, but Bullseyes blue costume has black rings around the neck and shoulders, giving him his signature target look from the comics.Reportedly, Foggy and Karen werent going to be part of Born Again they were added after a creative overhaul. I gotta admit that this makes me feel bad for Elden Henson. He gets left out of the show, then they decide to bring him back just to kill his character off. Rough!Kingpin is one of Spider-Mans greatest enemies in the comics, so I hope Fisk mentioning Spidey eventually leads to them squaring off on-screen one day.Did you catch the Punisher tattoo on the cops forearm? Given that there are people in real life who also appropriate his symbol for the wrong reasons, I sincerely hope Frank Castle gets a chance to address it just like he did in the comics once he shows up on Born Again.