Marvel’s upcoming AKA Jessica Jones has opened up casting floodgates in advance of its Daredevil predecessor even premiering a trailer for its April 10 Netflix debut, and now another name has joined the ranks. Transformers and Crisis star Rachael Taylor has been cast in the ‘AKA Jessica Jones’ role of Patsy “Trish” Walker, alternately known as Marvel superhero Hellcat.

Marvel made the announcement, clarifying the character’s 1944 origins in the pages of publishing precursor Timely Comics’ Miss America Magazine, before ascending to superhero status in 1976 as Hellcat. Netflix’s AKA Jessica Jones will introduce the character as Jessica’s closest friend, Trish Walker, a syndicated radio talk show host, former model and child TV star, known to fans as “Patsy.”

Says Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb of the casting:

Rachael’s ability to embody a character that must balance both the darker and lighter elements of our series will provide a perfect emotional anchor for Jessica Jones. Rachael blew us away with her grounded, humanizing take on Trish, adding yet another layer to the complex, emotional story we’re telling with this series.

 

Taylor joins a cast that thus far includes Breaking Bad star Krysten Ritter as the titular superheroine-turned-private-detective, Mike Colter as Luke Cage (subsequently to headline his own series), and Doctor Who favorite David Tennant as Zebediah Kilgrave, better known as Marvel’s menacing Purple Man. Melissa Rosenberg serves as writer and showrunner.

For those unfamiliar with the new series, Jessica Jones emerged in Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos's Alias comics as a superhero suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, leading her to hang up the costume and open a detective agency where she helps both super and human clients.

Marvel’s 13-episode AKA Jessica Jones will hit Netflix at an undisclosed point in 2015, following the April 10 release of Daredevil.

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