The official announcement regarding the casting identifies Tennant’s character in the series as a villain named Kilgrave, “an enigmatic figure from Jessica’s past.” According to Marvel, his reappearance in the title character’s life will “send shockwaves through the former super hero’s world.”
The character’s name is likely familiar to comic readers. In the Marvel Comics universe, Zebediah Killgrave is a villain known as “The Purple Man” who gained the ability to control other people’s will in the same accident that tinted his skin a dark, purple color. He first appeared in an early, 1964 issue of Daredevil.
Tennant joins previously announced series stars Krysten Ritter and Mike Colter, who will portray retired superhero Jessica Jones and invulnerable ex-convict Luke Cage, respectively.
“I’m so honored and excited by the prospect of David inhabiting this multifaceted character,” said series showrunner Melissa Rosenberg in a statement accompanying the announcement. “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.”
Tennant became a household name for sci-fi fans with an acclaimed performance as The Tenth Doctor in the long-running BBC series Doctor Who. His performance in that series is widely regarded as one of the key factors in the series’ recent mainstream success.
“Anyone familiar with David’s work knows he brings an incredible level of dedication to any role he inhabits, a level we knew we would need from the man playing Kilgrave,” added Marvel’s Head of Television, Jeph Loeb. “While most know him for his roles as a hero, we can’t wait to unleash a whole new side of this talented actor.”
A.K.A. Jessica Jones is expected to premiere on Netflix later this year after Daredevil. Both of these 13-episode series will then be followed by a Luke Cage series and an Iron Fist series, which will then lead into the team-up miniseries The Defenders.
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