Charlie Cox (43) Goes Shirtless and Shredded as Matt Murdock in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 – Marvel Star Reveals How He Did it

Charlie Cox has transformed his body to meet the demands of playing Daredevil, and the results are on full display in the new season of Marvel’s Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again. Cox, who told Business Insider that he wasn’t a regular gym-goer before taking on the role, has committed fully to intense workouts and a strict diet to maintain his superhero physique.

“The truth is, before I did this show, I’d never really been in shape, I never really had a gym membership, and I’d always just occasionally go for a run, that kind of stuff,” Cox said.

To convincingly play Matt Murdock, Cox needed not just strength but also agility and stamina for the fight scenes and physical challenges the role requires. After the first season, he made sure to keep up his training so he wouldn’t have to start from scratch for the second season.

“It was such hard work to get into shape, that when we finished the first season, just on the off-chance that we were going to do it again, I didn’t let myself completely go,” he explained.

New look at Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in ‘DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN’ Season 2. pic.twitter.com/7GiTlccAIt

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Cox’s personal trainer, Naqam Washington of Arazi Fitness, praised his dedication. “He’s committed. He’s the real deal,” Washington said. He added that their approach is very modern and functional, focusing on sport-specific movements rather than old-school bodybuilding routines.

Cox’s training involves targeting specific muscle groups each day, but with exercises that improve overall movement and athletic ability. He described his workout routine: “One day you go in, and do your shoulders. And the next day, you do your legs, and the next day after you do your biceps.”

A major part of his success also comes from his diet. Cox naturally has a slim frame, so he eats multiple meals a day, focusing on high carbohydrates to fuel muscle growth. “Be really militant with your food and the regularity of your food,” he said. Washington emphasized the importance of matching caloric intake to the goals of gaining lean muscle or losing weight.

Cardio is another essential element. Cox enjoys running and high-intensity workouts to maintain endurance. Washington described the intensity: “We’ll put the treadmill at an incline, like on a hill at five, and I’ll have him run. Every minute, we go all the way up to 12, and then all the way back down. It’s like he’s running up a hill constantly.” Other cardio exercises include rowing sprints and pushing a prowler, a heavy gym sled, across the floor in intervals.

Cox’s dedication shows the hard work required to look the part of a superhero on screen. His transformation for Daredevil is a mix of smart training, strict eating, and sheer consistency.

It’s impressive how much discipline goes into these roles beyond acting. Cox’s work makes the character feel believable, and it’s a reminder that superhero transformations are earned, not just CGI. What do you think about the intense physical preparation actors go through for superhero roles? Share your thoughts in the comments.