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Marvel and Netflix‘s Daredevil has cast its leading lady: True Blood breakout Deborah Ann Woll.
Sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that Woll will play Karen Page, the blind lawyer by day and crime-fighting hero by night and Matt Murdock’s (Boardwalk Empire‘s Charlie Cox) love interest in the 13-episode drama.
Page is the longest-running love interest for Daredevil. The character was created by Stan Lee and first appeared in the very first issue of Daredevil in April 1964. She’s the secretary at the law firm of Nelson & Murdock who eventually learns of his secret life as a superhero. In the 2003 Ben Affleck feature film, Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo played the role, which was a minor character. The Netflix series marks the first time the Karen character will be brought to life in a meaningful way, sources tell THR.
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The drama is based on the Marvel Entertainment comics of the same name. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost alum Drew Goddard was set to serve as showrunner on the series. After signing on to Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff Sinister Six, Goddard was replaced by Spartacus (and Buffy) alum Steven S. DeKnight, who will now oversee the show. Goddard will remain on as an exec producer and serve as a consultant on the drama.
For her part, Woll rocketed to stardom with her role as Bill’s prodigy, Jessica, on the Anna Paquin-Stephen Moyer series, which ends its seven-season run in August. The fan favorite is also a regular at Comic-Con, which she has been known to attend in costume.
The CAA-repped Woll’s credits include Highland Park, Ruby Sparks and Mother’s Day. She becomes the latest True Blood star to book a follow-up role, with Sam Trammell booking the Amazon pilot Cocked.
Woll joins Elden Henson, who is set to play Franklin “Foggy” Nelson, Matt Murdock’s friend and legal partner; Rosario Dawson in a mysterious role; and Vincent D’Onofrio as “The Kingpin.”
Marvel and Netflix declined comment on Woll’s casting.
Netflix picked up the 13-episode Daredevil — along with Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, as well as miniseries The Defenders — in a massive pact with Marvel. Daredevil is the first series out of the pack, debuting in 2015. It is produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
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