Former time lord David Tennant has been cast in Marvel’s upcoming TV series, A.K.A. Jessica Jones. The Broadchurch and Doctor Who alum has signed on to appear as the show’s chief villain, Zebediah Kilgrave.
Tennant will be joining the previously-cast Krysten Ritter, who nabbed the coveted lead role of Jones, a former superhero who establishes a New York City detective agency to aid those with unusual abilities. It’s safe to assume at some point her path will cross with that of Kilgrave, whose name suggests he might not an amiable sort.
Known by most Jessica Jones die-hards as The Purple Man, Kilgrave is described as an “enigmatic man” who will return to Jessica’s world to wreak havoc. His impressive powers include the ability to hear the thoughts of those closest to him, though we suspect he probably won’t be doing much good with whatever information he gleans.
In a press release issued by Marvel, showrunner and executive producer Melissa Rosenberg expressed her excitement toward today’s news:
“I’m so honored and excited by the prospect of David inhabiting this multifaceted character. He can deliver the most heart-wrenching moment to the driest of lines, and all points in between. He’ll make Kilgrave a truly original villain.”
Currently in development from the comic book giants and Netflix, the show is one of four full-length TV series headed for the small screen as a part of a deal between the two companies. Prior to Jones hitting the air, we’ll first see Charlie Cox as the blind lawyer-turned-superhero in Daredevil. Later on, the two other solo spinoffs, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, are slated to debut followed up by limited mini-series team-up, The Defenders.
The 13-episode run of A.K.A. Jessica Jones will debut exclusively on the streaming service later this year. Until then, you can acquaint yourself with the official synopsis below, and let us know what you make of today’s latest casting tidbit in the comments.
After a tragic ending to her short-lived super hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a detective who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilities in New York City.