Amy Rutberg, who plays Marci Stahl on
Netflix’s Daredevil, took time to speak with me this afternoon about what fans can expect to see from
Marvel’s horniest—Marci’s words, not mine—superhero in season three.
Read our interview below (questions are in
bold) to find out what’s new in Hell’s Kitchen after the events of
The Defenders, when to expect the US release announcement and how
Donald Duck almost crashed Vincent D’Onfrio’s Halloween party.
We were all abuzz when it leaked that season three will premier in Thailand on Oct. 19, which kind of has everyone aflutter with anticipation for the US release. Is anyone okay’d to actually speak on the official US release date or is that still murky water?
No, that’s super murky water…was there like a tweet that came out from like Thailand or something?
Netflix Thailand. It may have been a super big accident, but they showed a preview and it said something like: ‘October 19, meet season three!’
If, that is a strong if—IF that was accurate information, that was definitely a mistake! I think it’s safe to say…we know for sure—it’s been said by the president of
Netflix—that season three is coming out this year …
And there’s only so many months left in the year, right?
There’s only so many months left in the year, you know, I mean…I think they released a trailer…
Daredevil’s Twitter account is starting to release little things. I would say—it’s coming up! This is just my opinion based on how
Marvel works…historically, they’ve done these shows every three months, but…we’re getting into the holidays so, maybe, it’ll be sooner. Wouldn’t that be nice?
That would be awesome. Is there anything about it you can tell us that you’re excited to see in season three, particularly with your character?
All I can say is this: coming from season two, which we shot so long ago…when I got the call that Erik Oleson wanted to talk to me, I was crazy frickin’ excited…And with
Marvel it’s so secretive and there was no guarantee that Marci would have any part of season three.
But when he called and told me what his plans were, I was over the moon! Because I’m super passionate about this show, and I’m super passionate about Marci. I think she’s so well-written…she’s a complex character. And I love Marci and Foggy’s relationship.
I’m so glad you brought that up, because I love that dynamic and I was planning to ask you about it. Can you give us any hints about the direction that takes in season three?
So…I’m still feeling out how much I can really say about things... But here’s what I can say: …With the end of
The Defenders,
Daredevil’s dead…So, really, as far as Foggy knows, that’s sort of putting him on his own. And Foggy is working with me at Hogarth, as he was in
The Defenders, so the details of their relationship, whether or not that’s as co-workers, or romantic or whether we’re at each other [sic], I don’t think I’m really at liberty to say, but there is a relationship.
I think, the thing with Marci and Foggy, and the thing with Marci [sic]…she’s really kind of a modern woman of today. She’s got some bite, baby. And you have to have bite, but you know what? She loves Foggy, and I’m not afraid to say that. She’s always loved Foggy, there was something about Foggy from law school. Whether they were together, or they were apart, she is always looking out for his best interest.
Whether or not that is actually his best interest, is really of one’s own opinion, but she’s always honest with him...that’s her boy. And I would like to see...him appreciate that, frankly…
To me, that’s…sort of going to be interesting; to see how that unfolds in season three, and whether that’s a friendship, coworkers or as a…legitimate love relationship—I will say that their relationship will be very clear early on in the season.
One of the things I love about Marci is that she knows who she is, and she is absolutely unapologetic about it, and she’s got some of the best lines in the series.
Don’t you think? They do write it for me so well, yes. I have to say.
She’s very sharp and witty and funny. She has some zingers so—what is your favorite line?
There’s a different show runner each season, and the amazing thing is for Marci…I mean, my favorite line is definitely coming up in season three, but the thing they all have in common is they (the writers) are keeping it all very consistent…
Let’s see if I can think of my favorite line…I love it when she does the
Jessica Jones reveal—that is my favorite part of season two—and when she says, “You know, the horny one.” And does the thing with the horns…I think that’s so funny, and so Marci.
I can tell you my favorite moment from season two…is when they’re (Foggy and Marci) actually talking about Karen, and I’m not positive if that is season one or season two, but I’m pretty sure it was season two, at the bar…and she says, “Oh, she’s your type.”
She’s sort of hurt, and it’s a dig at him, but there’s a hurt in her eyes that’s really sort of telling about her feelings for him.
Right. I think one of the reasons that she’s so relatable is that she has those undertones. She's a person who, underneath this exterior, is a person that feels, and very deeply and it makes her very human. Whereas, with the DA, Reyes, she’s a super hard ass, and you don’t get to see under the surface, she doesn’t have those chips in her armor.
Marci’s got ethics. Marci does. She’s got ethics, and…I think, you know she might be jealous of Matt, but I think she’s very understanding about the relationship of the two of them, and I think that…it will be interesting to see…if, in fact,
Daredevil’s dead…that’s his best friend. So, it’ll be interesting to see how Marci sort of deals with that.
I’m happy to hear that, it sounds like at least, Marci’s role has been a bit expanded in season three, and if there’s any supporting character I’d like to see more of on Daredevil, it’s definitely her.
Put that in your interview—let’s make sure everyone at
Marvel hears about that, but yes! I’ve had a lot of fans tell me that, and you know. Look, up until this point I’ve only been in six episodes so it’s quite the compliment to hear that from people.
In part, you can attribute that to the writers, but you do a really great job of bringing her across.
Yeah! And she’s a nice juxtaposition to the other female characters in
Daredevil. Which are, frankly, sort of few and far between. I mean, you have Deborah Ann Woll, who in my opinion is one of the best television actresses working today…
But Marci and Karen are clearly very different.
Definitely. Marci comes across as someone with more experience with how to survive in a place like Hell’s Kitchen without losing your humanity entirely. And I think that’s something that Karen is still trying to figure out. Marci is a clearer example of how you can still be human, but also hardened.
And you know, Karen’s got secrets. I’m not sure…Marci doesn’t have those type of secrets…it’s going to be interesting to see how they develop that. I’m looking forward to it and, God-willing, there will be a season four.
For sure. I wanted to ask you, you appeared on The Defenders last year and, at one point in Daredevil, your character mentioned Jessica Jones and brought her into that world. All of these Netflix-produced Marvel titles tie into each other—which, I don’t’ know why I was surprised, maybe it’s the way it takes so long for stories to merge cinematically—but I was pleasantly surprised that, almost immediately, all of these stories began to tie together & characters were crossing over between titles. Where do you think she will, or where do you want Marci to show up next?
I would love for her to show up in
Jessica Jones, I mean. I would love for that to happen. That has not come up yet, but that’s not to say that it’s not gonna [sic] come up tomorrow. And…if it had come up I couldn’t really say anyway. But, yeah, I would love to see Marci make an appearance in
Jessica Jones…I think that would be a pretty logical next step.
Well you never know. We know Marvel is very secretive…
Well, that’s very, very true and that was definitely the case with season one and season two. I didn’t even get full scripts, I didn’t even know what was going on, Elden (Henson) would have to fill me in...
But for season three, I was a lot more in the loop and that felt great…to know what’s going on and feel like I’m closer to that…closer to the family. And I think a lot of that has to do with Erik Oleson. He’s just a genius, and he’s a hell of a nice guy, and working for
Marvel cannot be easy, but he has made it seem like it is.
So, hopefully that’s gonna [sic] be a long relationship, between Erik and
Marvel.
Absolutely. And, switching gears here slightly, talking about season three, what would you say your favorite day on set was? You don’t have to say what you were doing or who you were with, but what was your favorite day on set?
I have a favorite scene. And it’s an early scene. But I would have to say my favorite day on set, was when there were many characters involved. Because up until this point, Marci’s screen time has mostly been with Foggy…but there is a moment at some point in season three where there is more interaction with the greater cast [sic]. To get a chance to see some of them work…to see them do their thing was a great joy…
There is a scene in season three that, from a technical standpoint, is going to blow everyone’s mind and is going to be something I don’t think has ever been done in television history.
And that’s all I can say. But trust me, when you watch it…everyone’s gonna [sic] know what I’m talking about. Because when we read the script, that’s all we were talking about: ‘How are they going to pull this off?’
I’m really looking forward to this new season. Especially with what you’ve told about Marci’s expanded role and where Foggy is with everything going on with Matt, so this is pretty exciting.
Yes, and I will say one other thing I’m excited about and this is not a secret…but Vincent D’Onofrio is a part of season three…Just from an audience perspective, I’m not sure that there has ever been a greater villain than Fisk.I think he is so complex, so fascinating…That is what I am most excited to see in season three, personally.
I think we’ve all been waiting for his return since it was heavily implied that he would definitely be back. And, honestly, I feel like Fisk is one of the best performances Vincent D’Onofrio has ever delivered.
Oh yeah. So—a cute story about Vincent D’Onofrio, and no pressure to put this in, but—
After season one, I was a major fangirl of his, because obviously he’s amazing. And I had never met him, because we didn’t have any screen time together and he wasn’t at the season two premier…
So, it turns out, I’m in New York City, and he lives in my neighborhood. I took my kid trick-or-treating, at the time she was two or three, and she was
Goofy for Halloween, that’s what she wanted to be, and so Mommy had one of those giant furry—what do they call people who have those giant furry costumes?
They literally call them furries.
Alright! So, I had a furry costume on of
Donald Duck, that’s what I was—Listen, it was like 5pm on a weekday, that’s what she wants, it makes her happy.
You’ve got the visual. I’m in the furry costume, I got my hair pulled back, I got no make-up on. We’re trick-or-treating, and what do I do, but knock on a door and who answers the door?
Vincent—handing out candy.
And, what I should have done was just take the candy and say, “Thank you very much, sir.”
But I couldn’t help mah-self [sic]! And I was like, “Oh my god! Oh my God! I’m Amy! I’m in Daredevil! I play Marci!”
And I don’t even know what came out of my mouth, I was so excited to see him. And he was so polite! And I don’t know if he knew what I was talking about, if he even watches his own work…a lot of serious actors and artists don’t watch their own work…so, for all I know he doesn’t even know who I am.
But to his credit, he was so sweet…and I’m standing there with my two-and-a-half-year-old, and he’s like, “Well, we’re having a Halloween party, would you like to come in?”
And, I didn’t. I didn’t stay…the last thing I want to do is go to Vincent D’Onofrio’s Halloween party dressed as
Donald Duck with no make-up on, but he could not have been nicer and handled my fangirling with grace and sweetness.
So—that’s my Vincent D’Onofrio story.
Just in time for Halloween.
And just in time for Halloween.
But anyway…I hope I’ve phrased everything, so I don’t get in trouble. I think I did, right?
I don’t really know what’s trouble-worthy, but I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?
Yeah, and hopefully we will get an answer about when
Daredevil is dropping. I mean…I know they’re doing Comicon, so my guess is, it’ll be announced there. I mean, isn’t that what they usually do?
There you have it, folks. Sounds like there are a lot of new developments coming our way in the world of Daredevil, from Wilson's Fisk's return to what sounds like one hell of an action sequence. We'll be keeping close tabs on New York Comic Con, and if we do get that release date, you'll find it here! Thanks for reading, and if you liked my interview or want to share your excitement for season three of
Daredevil, sound off in the comments!
For more from Amy, you can follow
@AmyRutberg on Twitter!