Sorry, Ben Affleck! Charlie Cox Tapped to Star in Netflix's Daredevil Series

Boardwalk Empire alum is the first actor to join the series, which is eyeing a 2015 release after a showrunner shakeup

By Tierney Bricker May 27, 2014 11:52 PMTags
Charlie CoxEamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for BFI

No disrespect to Ben Affleck, but his replacement has been cast!

Charlie Cox has been tapped to star in Marvel and Netflix's upcoming Daredevil series, E! News has confirmed. The Boardwalk Empire star will play Matt Murdoch, the blind lawyer who fights crime in his downtime, a character Affleck played in the less-than-well-received 2003 film. Don't feel too bad for Affleck though. In case you just woke up from a very long coma, the Argo star and director is set to don the iconic Batsuit as Bruce Wayne opposite Henry Cavill's Clark Kent in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The news of Cox's casting comes on the heels of writer-director Drew Goddard leaving the project, with SpartacusSteven S. DeKnight coming on board to replace him. "Deeply honored to be a part of it," DeKnight tweeted after joining Daredevil

NEWS: Get all the scoop on Netflix's five Marvel series

Consisting of 13 episodes, Daredevil is eyeing a 2015 release on Netflix; production will begin this summer in New York City. Daredevil is just the first of five Marvel series coming to Netflix, with the online streaming site also set to release shows centering on Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, which will launch in that order, before they all come together for a Defenders series.

In addition to playing Owen Slater for two seasons on HBO's hit drama Boardwalk Empire, Cox is known for his work in films such as Stardust and Stone of Destiny

Comic book adaptations seem to be the biggest trend for the upcoming TV season: Not only is Marvel working with Netflix on four series, but they also have Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. heading into its second season on ABC, with Marvel's Agent Carter, starring Captain America's Hayley Atwell, set for a midseason debut. Plus, the CW has Arrow and The Flash, while Fox is introducing viewers to Gotham City pre-Batman in Gotham and NBC is tackling Constantine