The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding to the the small screen, beginning with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on ABC which just concluded its first season, and then opening the doors to a new set of stories and characters next year on Netflix. The Netflix plan is for four character-based 13-episode series based in New York's Hell's Kitchen and a miniseries which presumably will team them all together and they'll all be based in the same universe as The Avengers.

The first of these is Daredevil, a property recently reacquired from Twentieth Century Fox. Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire) will play the titular hero Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio has been cast as Wilson Fisk, a.k.a The Kingpin and primary antagonist to Daredevil. Joining them will be Rosario Dawson.

Marvel just made the official announcement but unlike Cox and D’Onofrio, they suspiciously neglect to specify which character Dawson - who reprises her other comic book role in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For this August - will play, only hinting that she's a "dedicated young woman whose quest to heal the wounds of Hell’s Kitchen brings Matt Murdock unexpectedly crashing into her life, while her own journey forever alters the course of his battle against the injustices of this broken city."

Daredevil the man without fear

As the production ramps up for a shooting start date next month in New York, more supporting cast members will be announced very shortly and not long after, we'll have to start hearing who are playing the other series leads as Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones - especially since they may crossover into each other's programs. Remember, it's all connected.

Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s Head of Television:

"Rosario Dawson is one the most charismatic, talented and powerful actresses in Hollywood, so she was always at the top of our list for 'Marvel’s Daredevil. Her role in the series is absolutely critical to Matt Murdock’s journey to become the hero we know as Daredevil."

Could Rosario Dawson be playing Murdock love interest Karen Page? The villainous Typhoid Mary? Maya Lopez, one of the few deaf comic book characters? Elektra? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Next: Elden Henson Cast as Daredevil's Foggy Nelson

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2 begins airing on ABC this fall. Daredevil releases on Netflix in 2015.

On the film side, Guardians of the Galaxy opens August 1, 2014The Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015, Ant-Man on July 17, 2015, Captain America 3 on May 6 2016, and unannounced films for July 8 2016 and May 5 2017.

Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes for your Marvel movie and TV news!

Source: Marvel