‘Agent Carter’ Star Hayley Atwell Cast in ABC Legal Pilot ‘Conviction’

According to The Hollywood Reporter, series lead Hayley Atwell has signed for a new pilot at the network, signaling that the writing may be on the wall for the Marvel show.

She will play the “brilliant but rebellious” daughter of “Clinton-like” political family, who is forced to work as the head of the new Conviction Integrity Unit in Los Angeles. Which is a group of lawyers investigating cases in which an innocent person may have been wrongfully convicted.

Produced by ABC Studios and The Mark Gordon Company, Conviction will operate under co-executive producers such as Liz Friedman (Jessica Jones) and Liz Friedlander (The Following), with the latter directing the pilot episode.

Atwell’s role is in first position to Agents of SHIELD spinoff Agent Carter. This seems to be a bigger indication that Agent Carter is in danger. In the meantime, the limited-run series of Agent Carter continues her cataclysmic collision course with Zero Matter exploitation on Tuesday nights on ABC. Last night’s “The Atomic Job” wrought only 2.9 million viewers, and Marvel has been shifting its gaze toward a new drama spun out from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as well, not to mention the comedies. Which is great for her, but does make us wonder if this means that Agent Carter is done after its second season.