Marvel and Netflix's Daredevil has found its leading man: Boardwalk Empire alum Charlie Cox.
Sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that Cox will star as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer by day and crime-fighting hero by night at the center of the 13-episode drama.
Cox becomes the first person cast in the drama series 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 over the holiday weekend 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.
Marvel and Netflix declined comment on Cox's casting. Official confirmation is expected to come shortly.
For his part, Cox has been a sought-after actor for the past two pilot seasons. He most recently was attached to topline CBS' untitled Wall Street drama from exec producer John Cusack. That pilot did not move forward at the network. Last year, he starred on CBS' drama pilot The Ordained, which also did not move forward. That would have served as his TV follow-up to HBO's Boardwalk Empire, where he recurred as Owen for two seasons. Repped by WME and United Agents in the U.K., Cox's credits include Moby Dick, Hello Carter and the starring role in another comics-to-screen adaptation, Neil Gaiman's feature Stardust.
Netflix picked up Daredevil -- as well as Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage and miniseries The Defenders -- in a massive pact with Marvel. Daredevil is first out of the gate with 13 episodes.
Daredevil arrives as Marvel continues to expand its relationship with ABC, adding Captain America spinoff Agent Carter as a bridge series between the fall and spring runs of the sophomore season of Agents of SHIELD.
Latino Review first reported Cox's casting.