Netflix Casts Its 'Daredevil' for Upcoming Marvel Superhero Series
by Andy Neuenschwander
According to reports, "Boardwalk Empire" and "Downton Abbey" star Charlie Cox has been cast in the upcoming "Daredevil" series, to air exclusively on Netflix. The show is part of Marvel's deal with the streaming service to provide a stable of original content that will tie in with Marvel's film and television properties, such as "The Avengers" and "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Cox, who served on "Boardwalk" and also starred in the movie adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust," will take on the role of Daredevil, the blind Marvel superhero who relies on his hyper-acute senses to fight crime while holding down a job as a lawyer during the day as the mild-mannered Matt Murdock.
The role was previously held by Ben Affleck in the notoriously poorly reviewed "Daredevil" movie, which was reviled by critics and fans alike. Still, the movie somehow managed to gross $180 million worldwide, and birthed a spin-off featuring Jennifer Garner as Elektra.
The Netflix show had a rocky weekend as showrunner Drew Goddard, who worked on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Lost," left the show upon being tapped to write the next "Amazing Spider-Man" sequel (a production that, while in cooperation with Marvel Studios, is not a Marvel Studios film). Goddard was replaced by another "Buffy" alum, Stephen S. DeKnight, though Goddard will remain on the show as an executive producer.
Marvel's slate for Netflix also includes plans for a Jessica Jones (of "Alias" fame) series, and a series featuring Iron Fist and Luke Cage, though all of the Netflix series may converge since the characters tend to interact often in the comics.
Cox's casting is unconfirmed as of yet.