Marvel Studios’ second foray into network television, the ABC series Agent Carter, is poised to start production soon, but the show has just now added a key cast member. Variety reports that Cloud Atlas actor James D’Arcy has signed on to play Howard Stark’s Butler Jarvis—yes, that Jarvis—in the period spy drama. D’Arcy will bring flesh and blood to what is likely the basis for Tony Stark’s virtual butler in the MCU, though that’s due to change in Avengers: Age of Ultron when the movie Jarvis (voiced by Paul Bettany) takes on the form of The Vision. More on Agent Carter after the jump.
D’Arcy is probably best known to many from Cloud Atlas, and he reunites with the Wachowski siblings in the upcoming sci-fi adventure pic Jupiter Ascending. With regards to Agent Carter, Variety reports that Jarvis will be an ally to the titular Strategic Scientific Reserve agent (played by Hayley Atwell) in the wake of Steve Rogers’ disappearance. The show revolves around Carter going on secret missions for Howard Stark while also balancing administrative work and life as a woman in 1946. Stark and Carter go on to form S.H.I.E.L.D. as seen in the Marvel One-Shot Agent Carter, so one might think of this new series as a prequel of sorts to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.—though let’s hope Agent Carter is of a considerably higher quality.
Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote both Captain America films, have been hard at work putting together the 8-episode first season of Agent Carter. The new series is expected to debut on ABC in January where it will bridge the winter hiatus gap of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Chad Michael Murray and Enver Gjokaj are also onboard to star, while Dominic Cooper is expected to make a recurring appearance as the aforementioned Howard Stark. Moreover, The Winter Soldier directors Joe and Anthony Russo are slated to direct episodes two and three of the first season. The pieces that Marvel has put into place thus far are promising, including D'Arcy's casting, and I'm hoping that this will be a significantly different kind of show than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
