Ben Affleck is taking over the lead in the Marvel Comics adaptation Daredevil, a role that was first offered to burly rising star Vin Diesel, who opted to do the sequel to Pitch Black instead. Let’s hope no costume fittings had been done yet, considering the difference in the actors’ stature.

Affleck is expected to fetch a low eight-figure salary for his services. Daredevil, for those of you unfamiliar with the Marvel Comics series, is the crime-fighting alter ego of blind lawyer and martial artist Matt Murdock. After an accident with a radioactive isotope, he develops the radar-like sight that helps him bring villains to justice.

When Affleck was erroneously mentioned a few years ago as the next Batman, and his then-girlfriend, Gwyneth Paltrow, was supposedly set to play Catwoman, Affleck denied the rumor, adding “Gwyneth is much more the [Marvel Comics’ superhero] Elektra type.”

Well, now’s the Oscar-winning actress’ chance to make the comic-book leap: Elektra, Daredevil’s ex-girlfriend-turned assassin-for-hire, is also making her big-screen debut, as are other yet-to-be cast Daredevil nemeses, the Mob boss Kingpin and master marksman Bullseye.

The film, which is budgeted at $50 million, is tentatively scheduled to shoot next year in Vancouver, with Mark Steven Johnson (Simon Birch) at the helm.

Affleck recently shot Surviving Christmas for Columbia and The Sum of All Fears for Paramount, in which he assumed the Jack Ryan mantle from Harrison Ford.

Affleck senses ‘Daredevil’ role

Ben Affleck is in negotiations to topline the live-action adaptation of the Marvel comic book “Daredevil” for 20th Century Fox/Regency Enterprises and writer-director Mark Steven Johnson, sources said. Affleck will star as attorney Matt Murdock, who was blinded in a freak accident involving a radioactive transport truck. At the same time, his other senses were enhanced, giving him a secret edge and allowing the blind superhero to battle crime using his heightened awareness and special powers. Producing the project are Gary Foster (”The Score”), Marvel’s Avi Arad and executive producer Stan Lee. Regency is fully financing “Daredevil,” with Fox handling distribution. Johnson penned the screenplay. Affleck next stars in a pair of Paramount Pictures releases: “The Sum of All Fears” opposite Morgan Freeman and “Changing Lanes” opposite Samuel L. Jackson. He recently appeared onscreen in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” for Dimension Films and “Pearl Harbor” for the Walt Disney Co. Affleck is repped by Endeavor. (Chris Gardner and Zorianna Kit)