Marvel Studios has already had a good 2014, with Captain America: The Winter Soldier breaking box office records with a huge haul in April. Plus, the exciting second trailer for their ambitious August release, Guardians of the Galaxy, has left fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe eager for more.

Then came yesterday's news that director Edgar Wright has walked away from his long-in-development Ant-Man film for Marvel Studios. The details on what led to Wright's departure have not been confirmed, but rumors suggest that extensive rewrites to the original screenplay by the director and Joe Cornish led to Wright's exit. This seems like an isolated incident, but it might be just the first in a series of developmental shake-ups at the studio.

Today, Latino-Review broke some news concerning another hotly anticipated Marvel property: El Mayimbe's sources said that Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard has left the Daredevil series, which is set to air on Netflix. Goddard was set to write and direct the pilot episode of the show, and then remain aboard as showrunner.

Marvel has since confirmed this, and reports that a new showrunner has been named. Steve S. DeKnight (Spartacus, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer) will take over the project for Goddard. Read the official press release below:

Marvel is proud to announce that acclaimed writer, director and producer Steven S. DeKnight ("Spartacus," "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer," "Angel") has joined "Marvel's Daredevil" as Executive Producer & Showrunner on the all-new 13-episode series premiering on Netflix in 2015. Drew Goddard, who also wrote the first two episodes, will continue to serve as Executive Producer on "Marvel"s Daredevil" as he writes and preps Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man" spin-off film, "The Sinister Six."

Drew Goddard and the Sinister Six

Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 spinoff Sinister Six - with Goddard set to direct - could, according to the rumor mill, begin filming as soon as January 2015, which has led to the speculation that the film could see a release as soon as 2016. Regardless of whether that's accurate or not, it seems that Daredevil's production schedule just left too slim a window for Sinister Six.

It appears that Goddard's voice will still influence Daredevil, since he has written the first two episodes and is remaining involved in a consulting capacity. What Marvel and Daredevil fans gain with DeKnight is a seasoned veteran of geek-friendly television. Besides his work on all three seasons of Spartacus and on Buffy, DeKnight worked with Joss Whedon on Angel and Dollhouse, along with a stint on Smallville.

Just as Edgar Wright's leaving Ant-Man has apparently not affected the film's release date, there is similarly no indication that Daredevil has been delayed, with the 13-episode initial season still set to debut on Netflix in 2015. With the supposed start date of July, 2014 just around the corner, can we expect an official delay in production? Or will the show's casting be confirmed soon instead? Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

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Daredevil is still expected to debut as a 13-episode series on Netflix in 2015.

Source: Latino-Review, Marvel