Marvel Confirms Krysten Ritter for ‘Jessica Jones’ Netflix Series [Updated]

[UPDATE: Marvel has confirmed the Jessica Jones casting!]

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With production on its first Netflix series, Daredevil, about to come to a close, Marvel Studios’ already hard at work on pre-production for the next series that will feature a superhero based in Hell’s Kitchen, Jessica Jones. Serving as show-runner on the latter program is Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter on the Twilight movie franchise as well as former Dexter writer/producer.

There’s been much speculation as to who would play the famed private detective for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but thanks to new reports, it appears the search may be over.

According to Deadline, Marvel has hired Breaking Bad and Don’t Trust The B—in Apt. 23 star Krysten Ritter (who also has a small role in Tim Burton’s Big Eyes later this month) to lead the new series. As for when an official announcement will be made, when shooting will begin and whether or not Ritter will make an appearance in the forthcoming Daredevil series, we’ll just have to wait and see.

UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Marvel Studios has officially confirmed Ritter’s casting as Jessica Jones. Here are the official statements, issued as part of the Marvel press release:

“Krysten brings both the hard edge and the vulnerability the role demands,” said Executive Producer/Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg. “We can’t wait for fans to see her in action, coming to Netflix in 2015.”

“Krysten Ritter has the type of range, spanning the comic to the tragic, that makes for the stuff of the best Marvel heroes,” said Jeph Loeb, Executive Producer/Marvel’s Head of Television. “As Jessica Jones, Krysten will bring one of the most beloved new characters of the past decade to life in a way we know will delight her longtime fans and introduce her to many more.”

For the uninitiated, Jessica Jones is a Marvel superhero who suffers from PTSD and opts to hang up her costume in exchange for opening a detective agency in order to help people and assist other superheroes. In addition, she also has a relationship with other Marvel hero, Luke Cage (who’s rumored to also be in the middle casting for his own respective series).

While it may be the second to premiere, Jessica Jones was one of the first planned television projects Marvel wanted to do in relation to the company’s shared on screen universe. Originally set-up at ABC with Rosenberg, statements by the Twilight writer can be found going all the way back to 2010, where she confirmed the series was set in the world of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Said Rosenberg back then to HitFix:

As we go along things will alter in terms of what is made available to us, but we’re definitely in that universe. We are in no way denying that that universe exists. And as much as I can I’m going to pull everything in from there that I can use.

As for the choice of casting Ritter in the lead role, it seems like a natural fit. Over the years, the actress has proven her capability to play in both the dramatic and comedic realm; and if the MCU is one thing, it’s a dramedy driven world that requires people that can walk the line between the two tones (something actors such as Clark Gregg, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans have done exceptionally well). Not to mention Ritter is an excellent addition to any ensemble cast, which is what the role will require once reaching the end of the story in Defenders.

Jessica Jones will premiere on Netflix in 2015.

Update source: Marvel