THR are reporting that 20th Century Fox have hired Brad Caleb Kane, writer-producer of Fox’s popular series, Fringe, to write the script for the upcoming reboot of Daredevil.

Last seen on the screen back in 2003 with Ben Affleck then taking the titular role, this new film is to be directed by British music and film director, David Slade, who last directed the third film in the Twilight saga, Eclipse.

Though the original film wouldn’t make it onto many people’s favourite comic book movies of all time, I think it often gets over-looked and is underrated in a lot of people’s opinions. Affleck played the role of the blind superhero brilliantly, and the film had the added bonus of having a cameo from one of my favourite directors, who’s friends with Affleck, Kevin Smith. It may not have done incredibly by Fox’s standards, making $180m. off an $80m. budget, but I’m still very much looking forward to this reboot.

Kane has been asked to adapt Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s Born Again, a 7-issue arc from the Daredevil series back in 1986 that has a much darker take on the tale of the superhero, seeing his identity uncovered by the Kingpin (last played by Michael Clarke Duncan) and falling further and further into insanity at the mob boss’ doing.

Slade, whose feature credits include Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night, is no rookie to dark films, and I think he could shoot the hell out of a Born Again-based Daredevil script. As good as the first film was, I think a darker take on Daredevil could definitely make for a much more interesting story.

Affleck said many years ago that he didn’t ever plan on reprising his role as the superhero, so it’s not likely that he’ll be donning the Daredevil costume second time around. A few years ago, the L.A. Times reported that at Comic-Con International 2008, Jason Statham expressed a very clear interest in playing the role:

“Just give me the chance, I would love to be Daredevil.”

And Miller, who was also at the event, said,

“I think he should be Daredevil too.”

Whether or not that still stands, I don’t know. I’m a really big fan of Statham’s though, and if he thinks he can do it, I believe him, and I’d love to do see him do it. With a director and writer now signed on to the project, it hopefully won’t be long until we get news of who it is that gets to put on the red suit.