As Warner Bros. reportedly seeks a female director for the upcoming Wonder Woman movie, Marvel Studios is getting ready to unveil ABC TV series Agent Carter - the very first female-led property in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hayley Atwell will reprise her role as the eponymous Agent Peggy Carter in a series that follows the events of Captain America: The First Avenger and documents the very early days of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Much of the main supporting cast for Agent Carter has already been assembled, with Dominic Cooper returning as brilliant inventor (and father of Iron Man) Howard Stark, Chad Michael Murray playing S.S.R. Agent Jack Thompson, Enver Gjokaj as war veteran Daniel Sousa, James D'Arcy as Stark's butler, Jarvis, and Shea Whigham as S.S.R. Chief Roger Dooley.

The official synopsis for Agent Carter has claimed that Peggy will feel marginalized and underused as the men return from World War II, finding herself confined to dull administrative work (while secretly carrying out field missions for Howard Stark). Peggy won't be completely outnumbered, however, as Marvel announced today that Agent Carter has cast its first female supporting character.

Lyndsy Fonseca, who played 'Alex' in The CW's espionage series Nikita and also starred in Kick-Ass as Dave Leuwinski's high school crush Katie, will have a regular role in Agent Carter as Peggy's friend Angie Martinelli, an aspiring actress who lives in New York.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Howling Commandos Carter
Peggy Carter and the Howling Commandos.

Jeph Loeb, Marvel's Head of Television, said in a statement accompanying the announcement that in the world of secret agents and post-war machismo, Fonseca is hoped to bring a warmer side with 'Angie,' "the friend Peggy needs if she's to survive the dangers that lie ahead." That makes it sound like Angie will be drawn into Peggy's missions for Howard Stark and the S.S.R., unless it's a different kind of survival that Loeb's talking about.

After all, the synopsis also states that the show will be about "[Peggy Carter] trying to navigate life as a single woman in America," and it never hurts to have a good wingwoman.

Despite being a relatively minor character in the Marvel comic books, Carter has become a common fixture of the MCU with Atwell appearing in both Captain America films, guest-starring on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and reportedly even landing a small role in in The Avengers: Age of Ultron as well. So before long, her best friend Angie may be needed to keep her ego in check, as well.

Agent Carter will premiere on ABC in January 2015.

Source: Marvel