New casting news will be posted at the top, clicking on the title will reveal a bit more about the casting.
For Details of the actual Pilots/Synopsis, see our Pilot Watch.
Chris Douglass Joins NBC Pilot 'Take It From Us'
Newcomer Chris Douglass (Hollidaysburg) has been cast as the male lead opposite Stacy Farber in NBC comedy pilot Take It From Us. Douglass,will play Luke, who is not a rule follower but a risk taker. It’s that quality that led him to move from Seattle to New York without a college degree to try to be a journalist. So far, it’s working. Kind of. He’s a lowly headline writer but is hoping to get promoted soon.
Source:
Deadline
Trace Lysette Joins NBC Pilot 'The Curse Of The Fuentes Women'
Trace Lysette (Transparent) has booked a series regular role in The Curse Of The Fuentes Women. Lysette, will play Gloria, the brash transgender hostess at Café Fuentes, Gloria is never shy about voicing her opinions, often to her own detriment.
Source:
Deadline
Gabrielle Dennis Joins FOX's Untitled Todd Harthan Pilot
Gabrielle Dennis (Blue Mountain State, The Game) Gabrielle Dennis has booked a series regular role in Fox’s untitled Todd Harthan drama pilot. Dennis, will play Pippy Rosewood, Beaumont’s younger sister who is also a vital member of his pathology team.
Source:
Deadline
Maureen Sebastian Joins FOX Pilot 'Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life'
Maureen Sebastian (Revolution) is set as a series regular in Fox comedy pilot Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life. Sebastian, will play Cooper’s over-achieving, loving and very self-sufficient sister-in-law Leslie Barrett.
Source:
Deadline
Maggie Lawson To Star In CBS Comedy Pilot ‘Angel From Hell’
Maggie Lawson is set as the co-lead opposite Jane Lynch in CBS’ half-hour single-camera comedy pilot Angel From Hell.
When the larger-than-life, brassy and flamboyant Amy (Lynch) enters Allison’s (Lawson) life and claims to be her guardian angel, they form an unlikely friendship, and Allison can’t be sure if Amy is an angel or just nuts. Allison, a multi-tasker and perfectionist, is inclined to believe that Amy (Lynch) is just another wingnut, except that every last one of Amy’s pronouncements comes true.
Source:
Deadline
Jaime Lee Kirchner To Star In CW Pilot ‘Dead People’
Jaime Lee Kirchner (Mercy) is set as the female lead opposite Andrew J. West in the CW pilot Dead People. Kirchner, will play Charly, a tough, talented, no-nonsense cop who’s seen it all – but is unprepared for Floyd (West), who talks to the dead. Though she thinks he’s a nut case at first, she soon realizes he’s telling the truth and decides that he could prove to be very helpful with her police work.
Source:
Deadline
Bethany Joy Lenz cast in Shonda Rhimes Pilot Smoke & Mirrors
Bethany Joy Lenz is getting her con on.
The One Tree Hill alumna has landed a series-regular role in Smoke and Mirrors, Shonda Rhimes’ con artist-themed ABC drama pilot, TVLine has learned exclusively. (The project was FKA The Catch.)
The potential series centers on the strong successful Alice Martin (The Killing‘s Mirelle Enos), a fraud investigator who’s about to be the victim of fraud herself by fiancé Kieran (NCIS‘ Damon Dayoub). Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career.
Lenz will play Kieran’s wife Zoe, a girl-next-door-type who is able to pass as Kieran’s sister in their cons. She loves her husband and loves their life — amoral though it may be — and she’s going to hang on tight as she senses him slipping away from her.
Source:
TVLine
Minnie Driver joins CBS Comedy Pilot ‘Happy Life’
About A Boy star Minnie Driver is set as the female lead opposite Steven Weber in Happy Life. Driver will play his wife Maggie, a former doctor who left that grind to embark on a new career teaching people “mindful meditation” out of her home studio. She’s the mother of Lucy and Andrew.
Driver has been cast as a guest star in the pilot as she is in second position to her sophomore NBC comedy series About A Boy, which is heavily on the bubble, with its renewal chances considered slim. Happy Life has a series regular option on Driver should the pilot go to series and About A Boy not come back.
Source:
Deadline
Michael Chiklis and Cheryl Hines join NBC Pilot ‘Cuckoo'
Michael Chiklis is set to star and Cheryl Hines (Suburgatory) will co-star opposite Flula Borg in NBC’s comedy pilot Cuckoo, an adaptation of the breakout BBC Three comedy series that starred Andy Samberg. NBC’s Cuckoo is the story of a middle-class family whose daughter comes back from a summer abroad married to a charming but infuriating eccentric named Cuckoo (Borg), much to her father Ken’s (Chiklis) annoyance. Hines will play the mom, Lori.
Source:
Deadline
Kevin Nealon & Jane Kaczmarek join Tommy Johnagin CBS Comedy Pilot
Weeds alum Kevin Nealon and Malcolm In the Middle‘s Jane Kaczmarek are set to co-star opposite comedian Tommy Johnagin and JoAnna Garcia Swisher in CBS’ untitled CBS comedy pilot inspired by Johnagin’s life.
Nealon plays Tommy’s dad Jack, a charming but manipulative loose cannon who flirts with every woman and says everything with a smile — but has a self-destructive streak and ruined his marriage to Linda (Kaczmarek), Tommy’s responsible mother who owns a local diner. Linda still treats her adult children like babies and loves a chance to brag about Tommy’s talk-show appearances and career path. She has held her ex-husband in absolute contempt for the past 17 years and forces him to eat at the crappiest seat in her restaurant. Swisher plays Tommy’s wife.
Source:
Deadline
James Caan Exits Fox Pilot ‘Fantasy Life’
James Caan has departed Fox’s multi-camera/hybrid pilot Fantasy Life following its table read today. Caan was a last-minute addition to the project; he only closed his deal three days ago. Caan had a previous commitment to Sicilian Vampire, a movie written and directed by Frank D’Angelo, which is starting production in Toronto with Paul Sorvino, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Daniel Baldwin, Franco Nero and Eric Roberts co-starring. When Caan signed on for Fantasy Life, the two sides believed that the dates for the movie and the pilot would be worked out. That no longer is the case, leading to Caan’s departure. His role is being recast.
Source:
Deadline
Jason Scott Lee Joins NBC Pilot 'Warrior'
Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) has booked a series regular role in Warrior, NBC’s magical martial arts drama pilot. Lee, will play Koto, a martial arts master chosen to recruit Kai (Martinez) to work with Interpol on stopping a Japanese organized crime syndicate.
Source:
Deadline
D.L. Hughley Cast In NBC Pilot ‘Heart Matters'
D.L. Hughley (The Original Kings Of Comedy) has joined the cast of NBC’s drama pilot Heart Matters. Hughley will play Dr. Hackett, the psychiatrist at the hospital.
Source:
Deadline
Ian Colletti Joins AMC Pilot 'Preacher' as Arseface
AMC’s Preacher adaptation has cast another character from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s cult comic. Young actor Ian Colletti (Fox’s Rake) has joined the drama pilot, from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The project from Sony TV and AMC Studios is about Jesse Custer, a conflicted preacher in a small Texas town who merges with a creature that has escaped from heaven and develops the ability to make anyone do anything he says. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, the three embark on a journey to literally find God.
Colletti plays Eugene Root, aka Arseface. Even with his horribly disfigured face and severe speech impediment, Eugene’s still the nicest kid you’ll ever meet and really looks up to Jesse. Stomach-churningly difficult to look at, Eugene’s the town’s reviled Frankenstein’s monster, but that won’t change his earnest, sweet and pure outlook on life. However, he is troubled by something terrible he’s done in the past — something he fears might have turned God himself against him.
Source:
Deadline
Ravi Patel Joins FOX Pilot 'Grandpa'
Ravi Patel (Transformers) has booked a series regular role opposite John Stamos in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Grandpa. Patel, will play Ken, Jimmy’s (Stamos) good friend who is always up for a party but is never invited to one.
Source:
Deadline
Charlie Saxton Joins FOX Pilot 'Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Your 20s'
Charlie Saxton (Hung, Betas) is set as a series regular in Fox comedy pilot Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Your 20s. Saxton, will play Neal Kang one of Cooper’s roommates. Fresh out of college, he is excited about his new job working in an office, designing scalable software platforms, but terrified about the number of strangers he’s going to have to interact with.
Source:
Deadline
Robbie Jones Joins NBC Pilot 'The Curse Of The Fuentes Women'
Robbie Jones (Hellcats) has joined the cast of NBC’s drama pilot The Curse Of The Fuentes Women, as a series regular. Jones, will play Jean-Baptiste, the line cook at Café Fuentes who’s taken over for Esperanza (Ticotin). With business dwindling he spends most of his time gawking at his boss, Lola (Vidal), whom he’s desperately in love with.
Source:
Deadline
Ruth Negga Lands Female Lead In AMC Pilot ‘Preacher’
EXCLUSIVE: Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Ruth Negga has been cast as the female lead in Preacher. The project, from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, is about Jesse Custer, a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who merges with a creature that has escaped from heaven and develops the ability to make anyone do anything he says. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Negga) — Jesse’s former and only true love — and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, the three embark on a journey to literally find God. Tulip is described as a volatile, action-packed, sexified force of nature, a capable, unrepentant criminal with a love of fashion and ability to construct helicopter-downing bazookas out of coffee cans and corn shine who’s not afraid to steal, kill or corn cob-stab her way out of a bad situation.
Negga is the first actor cast in Preacher, from Sony TV and AMC Studios. Rogen and Goldberg developed the project for television and will direct the pilot, written by Sam Catlin who serves as showrunner.
Source:
Deadline
Page Kennedy Joins 'Rush Hour'
Page Kennedy (Backstrom) has booked a role in CBS’ hourlong pilot Rush Hour. He will play Gerald, Carter’s (Hires) cousin. Gerald runs with a rough crowd, and he’s in the know about a lot of stuff that is often helpful to a police investigation. He comes off as vicious and terrifying, but it’s merely an act.
Source:
Deadline
Joshua Leonard Joins NBC Pilot 'Heart Matters'
Joshua Leonard (If I Stay) has joined the cast of NBC’s drama pilot Heart Matters. Leonard, will play Max, Alex’s (George) ex-husband
Source:
Deadline
Mario Van Peebles & Leonardo Nam Join ‘For Justice'
Mario Van Peebles (Ali) has been cast in a guest role with a series option in CBS’ civil rights crime drama pilot For Justice. Also joining as a series regular is Leonardo Nam (Vantage Point).
Peebles will play Ben, Nat’s (Rose) father. He’s a long-time revolutionary, determined to overthrow the American government by subversion or political action, and he’s been living an underground life for decades. Nam is Leon, an FBI agent with the Civil Rights Unit and the best-dressed, best-groomed man in the Bureau. He’s also ranked in mixed martial arts.
Source:
Deadline
Christina Moore Joins ‘Delores & Jermaine’
Christina Moore (Last Man Standing) is set as a series regular opposite Jermaine Fowler and Whoopi Goldberg in ABC’s multi-camera comedy pilot Delores & Jermaine. Moore, plays Ebony, Jermaine’s mother, Marsha’s new wife.
Source:
Deadline
Khary Payton Joins ABC Pilot 'The Kingmakers'
Khary Payton (Teen Titans) has landed a series regular role in ABC’s drama pilot The Kingmakers. Payton, will play Ben Wheeler, a laid-back and casual professor who is an anomaly among his stuffed-shirt peers at Braddock.
Source:
Deadline
Rita Moreno, Alli Kinzel & Noland Ammon Join CBS Pilot ‘Joe Time'
Rita Moreno has booked a series regular role in CBS’ multi-cam comedy pilot Joe Time.
Moreno will play Judy, Joe’s (Weber) mom. She’s in love with her husband Mitch, and also preoccupied with physical fitness and her amazing personal trainer. Also cast in regular roles are Alli Kinzel and Noland Ammon. Kinzel is Lucy, the daughter and eldest child of Joe ( Weber), who works with him in the family construction business. Ammon plays Andrew, the son and youngest child of Joe, a piano player who thinks it’s cool to accompany his grandfather during his cabaret performance.
Source:
Deadline
Vanessa Lachey To Star In NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Not Safe For Work’
Vanessa Lachey (Fox’s Dads) is set as a lead opposite Michael Cassidy and Christine Woods in NBC’s comedy pilot Not Safe For Work. The politically incorrect office comedy centers on best friends Dale (Cassidy) and Georgie (Woods) whose relationship is upended when he starts dating the “perfect” woman, Drea (Lachey), the perky local morning news anchor who is self-conscious about maintaining her image.
Source:
Deadline
Fox's 'Lucifer' Adds Lesley-Ann Brandt in Recasting
The 'Librarians' actress will replace Lina Esco in the pilot adaptation of the DC Comics title.
The Librarians actress Lesley-Ann Brandt is replacing the previously cast Lina Esco in the network's DC Comics adaptation, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Brandt will take on the role of Maze, Lucifer's best friend and a fierce demon in the form of a beautiful young woman.
Source:
THR
Cara Buono In NBC’s ‘Endgame’
Mad Men alumna Cara Buono has joined the cast of NBC drama pilot Endgame. Buono will play Ginny, Alex’s ex-wife, a hardworking surgeon who struggles with her sobriety.
Source:
Deadline
Tim Blake Nelson Joins CBS Pilot ‘For Justice'
Tim Blake Nelson (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?) has booked a series regular role opposite Anika Noni Rose in CBS’ civil rights crime drama pilot For Justice. Nelson, will play Ochs Rainey, a chief with the Civil Rights Unit. He is a former angry Southern boy from a Klan family who has learned to move past his legacy of racism.
Source:
Deadline
Jamie Lynn Sigler Cast In ‘Fantasy Life’
The Sopranos alumna Jamie Lynn Sigler will co-star opposite Kevin Connolly, Vanessa Williams, and James Caan in Fox’s multi-camera/hybrid pilot Fantasy Life. Sigler will play Abby, a strong, confident, attractive, smart, sports analyst on Mitch’s Fantasy Football league show.
Source:
Deadline
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Joins CBS Pilot ‘Limitless’
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio will co-star opposite Jake McDorman and Jennifer Carpenter in CBS’ drama pilot Limitless. Mastrantonio will play Nasreen ‘Naz’ Awad, a former prosecutor who joined the FBI in her mid-30s and serves as the Special Agent in Charge of the division that investigates and tracks NZT.
Source:
Deadline
Mohammad Bakri Joins 'Of Kings And Prophets'
Mohammad Bakri (Tyrant) has booked one of the male leads opposite Ray Winstone in ABC’s drama pilot Of Kings And Prophets. Bakri will play Samuel, last of the Biblical judges. He alone hears and speaks for God.
Source:
Deadline
Ciara Bravo In Fox’s ‘Frankenstein’
Red Band Society star Ciara Bravo has landed a series regular role on Fox pilot Frankenstein. Bravo will play Gracie, Ray’s (Hall) granddaughter.
Source:
Deadline
Kristin Bauer Van Straten Joins ABC Pilot ‘The Kingmakers'
Kristin Bauer van Straten (Once Upon A Time, True Blood) has been cast as a series regular in ABC’s drama pilot The Kingmakers.
Bauer van Straten will play Maeve Vandemeer, an art professor at Braddock, who is married to the dean of the school and has a complicated ongoing affair with Senator Walden (Adrian Pasdar).
Source:
Deadline
Hill Harper Joins CBS Pilot ‘Limitless’
CSI: NY alum Hill Harper is returning to CBS with a co-starring role opposite Jake McDorman and Jennifer Carpenter in CBS’ drama pilot Limitless.
Harper plays Boyle, a former military officer who is now an FBI asset with experience testing the effects of NZT on FBI Special Agents.
Source:
Deadline
America Ferrera Lands Female Lead in NBC's 'Superstore'
Ugly Betty is headed to a strip mall near you.
Ferrera, in what would be her first major TV gig since Ugly Betty signed off in 2010, will star as Cloud 9’s longtime floor supervisor Amy, who is initially put off by newbie Jonah’s (Feldman) unconsciously superior attitude, as well as his clowning around on the job. Despite a rocky start, the two quickly bond as Jonah gets Amy to find more joy at work, and she starts to become quite allured by the new hire. In addition to starring, Ferrera will retain a producer title on the potential series.
Source:
TVLine
Mary Lynn Rajskub Joins ABC’s Untitled Judah Miller Project
24 vet Mary Lynn Rajskub has joined the cast of ABC’s Untitled Judah Miller Project in a series-regular role, TVLine has confirmed. Rajskub will play Susie, the self-serving and opportunistic twin sister of Grunberg’s Gary.
Source:
TVLine
Reed Birney & Luke Slattery Join 'LFE'
Reed Birney (House Of Cards) and Luke Slattery have joined the cast of CBS pilot LFE. Birney, will play Scotty, the terminally ill father of new surgical resident Joe (Daniel Sharman) and Bobby (Slattery), a troublemaking high school senior who happens to be brilliant.
Source:
Deadline
Marissa Jaret Winokur In Judah Miller Pilot
Marissa Jaret Winokur has booked a series regular role in ABC’s untitled Judah Miller comedy pilot. Winokur, who is married to Judah Miller, will play Donna, the ultimate normal soccer mom and a foil to Tony Award-winning Irene (Hilty).
Source:
Deadline
Adrian Pasdar Joins ABC’s ‘The Kingmakers'
Adrian Pasdar (Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.) has joined the cast of ABC’s drama pilot The Kingmakers.
Pasdar, will play Senator Adam Walden, possibly a member of a secret society who is running for president.
Source:
Deadline
James Floyd Joins ‘Of Kings And Prophets’
James Floyd (My Brother The Devil) has landed a series regular role opposite Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Ray Winstone on ABC’s drama pilot Of Kings And Prophets. Floyd, will play Ish-Boseth, the youngest warrior son of Saul and Ahinoam. He next will be seen in crime thriller Newcomer.
Source:
Deadline
Alimi Ballard Joins 'The Catch'
Alimi Ballard (Fast Five, Numb3rs) has booked a series regular role in ABC pilot The Catch. Based on the novel by Kate Atkinson, the story centers on Alice (Mireille Enos), whose engagement to Kieran (Damon Dayoub) suddenly is shattered when she discovers she’s been conned. Ballard portrays Evan, a successful gallerist and closest friend to the couple who is shocked to learn they have all been swindled.
Source:
Deadline
Rupert Graves & Madeleine Arthur To Co-Star In ABC’s Jenna Bans Pilot
Rupert Graves (V For Vendetta) has landed a lead role opposite Joan Allen in the untitled ABC/ABC Studios drama pilot written by Jenna Bans and directed by Paul McGuigan.
Graves, will play John (fka Peter Warren), Claire’s (Allen) handsome, warm and charismatic husband. For the past 12 years he has poured his energy into writing a book series about grief as the loss of their child took a toll on his and Claire’s relationship. Also cast is Madeleine Arthur (Big Eyes, The Tomorrow People) as the young Willa Warren, who becomes frantic when her little brother Adam goes missing.
Source:
Deadline
James Caan To Co-Star In Fox Comedy Pilot ‘Fantasy Life’
James Caan is set for a co-starring role opposite Kevin Connolly and Vanessa Williams in Fox’s multi-camera/hybrid pilot Fantasy Life.
Caan plays the tough and humorless Chuck, an ex-legendary football player/coach who’s on Mitch’s new team working on Fox’s fantasy football league show. Chuck doesn’t get fantasy football since he played real football and suffered real pain, however, Mitch eventually impresses him, and the former football star is willing to work with him.
Source:
Deadline
Cynthia McWilliams Gets Female Lead In ‘Love Is a Four Letter Word’ NBC Pilot, Meta Golding Exits
A second drama pilot this season is making a major casting change with an actress getting promoted to a lead role after the table read in a recasting. Cynthia McWilliams, originally tapped for the series regular role of Tandi in the NBC pilot Love Is a Four Letter Word, will now play the female lead Julie. She replaces previously cast Meta Golding, who is leaving.
Source:
Deadline
Newcomer Gus Halper Lands The Lead In ABC Pilot ‘The Kingmakers’
Will ABC’s drama pilot The Kingmakers be a star maker? After a lengthy search, the project has cast newcomer Gus Halper as the lead. Written and executive produced by Sallie Patrick, Kingmakers, from ABC Studios, centers on Eli (Halper), a young man whose sister Julia is found dead during her freshman year at an elite Ivy League university. He adopts a new identity to infiltrate the school and its century-old secret society – consisting of privileged students, ambitious faculty and high-profile alums – in order to investigate her death.
Halper is a heartthrob in the making — the 2014 University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduate played Romeo in his drama school’s production of the Shakespeare classic last spring.
Source:
Deadline
Greg Grunberg To Star In ABC Judah Miller Family Comedy Pilot
Greg Grunberg is set as the male lead opposite Megan Hilty in ABC’s untitled Judah Miller comedy pilot. The single-camera project centers on a Tony Award-winning mother (Hilty) and a risk-averse, cerebral father (Grunberg) who are blessed with a son who is a natural-born competitive athlete. They are forced outside their parental comfort zones and into the high-octane world of youth sports. Grunberg’s Gary is a geriatric doctor and is a cautious and practical father and husband.
Source:
Deadline
Ben Feldman To Topline NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Superstore’
Mad Men alum Ben Feldman will lead the cast of NBC comedy pilot Superstore. Superstore is about a group of employees at a big-box store and examines love, friendship and the beauty of everyday moments. It centers on Jonah (Feldman), a boyish college grad who’s never had a job before and wants a taste of the real world. His unwittingly elitist behavior initially alienates him from his floor manager and co-workers at a big-box store but his charisma, zest for life, and eternal optimism is contagious and endears him to his fellow staffers.
Source:
Deadline
Justin Hires Cast As Carter In ‘Rush Hour’ CBS Pilot
CBS and Warner Bros. TV are going with unknown actors for both leads in the Rush Hour series remake, which probably makes sense given how closely associated the roles are with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, who played them in the movie franchise. Little known actor-comedian Justin Hires (21 Jump Street, Key & Peele) beat out several bigger names to play Carter opposite Jon Foo’s Lee in CBS’ hourlong action pilot Rush Hour.
Source:
Deadline
Morgan Krantz Joins 'The Half Of It'
Morgan Krantz (Switched At Birth) has booked a series regular role on The Half Of It, CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot written/executive produced by Mike Gibbons and directed by James Burrows.
Krantz, will play Trevor, Mike’s (Dore) Bohemian hipster neighbor.
Source:
Deadline
Chaz Lamar Shepherd Joins 'Fantasy Life'
Chaz Lamar Shepherd (7th Heaven) is set as aChaz Lamar Shepherd series regular opposite Kevin Connolly and Vanessa Williams on Fox’s multi-camera/hybrid pilot Fantasy Life.
Shepherd, will play MC2, a pro football player and one of the analysts for Mitch’s Fox Fantasy Football show.
Source:
Deadline
Marin Hinkle Joins 'The King of 7B'
Marin Hinkle (Two And A Half Men) has landed a series regular role in ABC’s single-camera comedy pilot The King Of 7B. Hinckle will play Charlotte, Prentiss’s sister, formerly a stylish deb, now a Peta zealot who eschews beauty products and wears only “natural fabrics”.
Source:
Deadline
Chris Johnson, Megan Dodds & Matthew LeNevez Join 'Runner'
UPDATES: Chris Johnson (The Vampire Diaries) and Megan Dodds (The Contract) have booked series regular roles opposite Adam Rodriguez and Paula Patton in ABC’s drama pilot Runner.
Johnson, will play Josh, a handsome and artistic architect and Lauren’s business partner. Dodds, plays Emily, Simon’s wife. Also cast is Matthew LeNevez, who plays Adam, a pediatric surgeon.
Source:
Deadline
Marcia Gay Harden Takes Over The Lead In ‘Code Black’, Bonnie Somerville Cast
EXCLUSIVE: There is a major casting change on the CBS medical drama pilot Code Black. Marcia Gay Harden, originally cast in the co-starring role of Christa, will now play the lead, Leanne. Bonnie Somerville has been tapped to replace Harden as Christa.
The lead in Code Black became vacant after the table read earlier this week when 31-year-old Maggie Grace, originally cast in the role, was released. As part of the recasting process, the pilot’s producers and casting directors looked at other actresses in Leanne’s suggested age range (35). While that was going on, they also started thinking of Harden in the role. It is not a conventional choice as Harden is 24 years older than Grace. But I hear that the executives felt the Oscar winner had the gravitas they felt the role needed. Leanne is described as the residency director in the ER, who is a force of nature and a force to be reckoned with. A decision was made to age up the Leanne character and age down Christa, with Somerville tapped to play the tweaked character. Christa, a former soccer mom whose son died of cancer, is a newly minted, talented and dedicated doctor whose experience handling her son’s disease, coupled with her intuition and life experience, makes her see things that often escape her younger fellow residents.
Source:
Deadline
Rachel Boston joins CBS’ ‘For Justice’
Witches Of East End alum Rachel Boston is set as a series regular in CBS’ civil rights crime drama pilot For Justice. Boston, will play Lisa, everyone’s favorite kid sister and another DOJ lawyer with Nat’s team.
Source:
Deadline
Jamie Kennedy Joins NBC Pilot ‘Heart Matters'
Jamie Kennedy (The Cleveland Show) has landed a lead role in NBC’s drama pilot Heart Matters. Kennedy, plays Dr. Callahan, a great surgeon despite his obnoxious manner.
Source:
Deadline
HBO Pilot ‘The Devil You Know': Ever Carradine & Damien Molony, Karen Gillan and More Among Additions
HBO drama pilot The Devil You Know (working title), co-written by Orange Is The New Black creator Jenji Kohan, Bruce Miller and Tracy Miller, is building out its cast. Joining previously announced Eddie Izzard, Nadia Alexander and Ismenia Mendes in series regular roles are Ever Carradine, Damien Molony, Julian Rhind Tutt, Matthew James Thomas, Nigel Lindsay, Ewen Bremner, Karen Gillan, Hannah Nordberg, Naian Gonzalez Norvind and Zawe Ashton. Tapped as recurring are Will Pullen, Kate Nash. and Seana Kofoed.
Carradine will play Ann Putnam Sr., Thomas’ (Izzard) wife who is sickly but strong among her peers. Molony is Robert Putnam, Thomas’ (Izzard) eldest son. Tutt plays Minister Samuel Parris, a hard-line Puritan, who isn’t very popular, until the accusations start. Thomas is Henry Paine, a newcomer from England. Lindsay plays Dr. Griggs, a man of science and reason. Bremner is Israel Porter, patriarch of the powerful Porter clan. Gillan plays Jane Porter, youngest daughter of Israel Porter. Nordberg is Betty Parris, Samuel Parris’ daughter. Norvind, is Samuel Parris’ niece. Ashton, is the Parris’ slave brought from Barbados. She truly loves Betty, whom she’s cared for since birth. Pullen recurs as Moses Cooper, Nash as Bridget Bishop.
Source:
Deadline
Majandra Delfino To Star In ABC Molyneux Comedy Pilot
Majandra Delfino is set as the female lead opposite James Roday in ABC’s untitled Molyneux comedy pilot (aka The Brainy Bunch).
Through a combination of genetics and dynamic home schooling, Kip (Roday) — a former Special Forces Operations Sergeant — and MonaLisa Mitchell (Delfino) — a teacher with PH.D. in literature who believes that everyone on Earth is born with a special gift — find themselves raising seven brilliant kids.
Zoe Colletti, Spencer Tomich and Harrison Holzer have been cast as three of the kids. Griffith plays MonaLisa’s mother who takes them into her Orange County home.
Source:
Deadline
D.B. Woodside, Rachael Harris Join Fox Drama Pilot ‘Lucifer’
24 star D.B. Woodside and Rachael Harris (The Hangover) have landed series regular roles in Fox’s comic book drama pilot Lucifer.
Woodside, repped by DBA and MJ Management, will play Amenadiel, an angel sent to L.A. to persuade Lucifer to return to hell. Harris is Linda, a therapist Lucifer initially encounters when working with Chloe to solve a case; Lucifer then seeks Linda’s professional advice.
Source:
Deadline
Alano Miller has landed a lead role in WGN America’s straight-to-series drama 'Underground'
Miller will play Cato, a striking, cunning, and oddly charismatic slave on the plantation, who’s despised and feared by the other slaves.
Source:
Deadline
Alex Meneses In NBC’s ‘Telenovela’
Alex Meneses (Selena) has booked the final series regular role opposite Eva Longoria in NBC’s 13-episode single-camera comedy series Telenovela starring and executive produced by Eva Longoria.
Menese will play Isabella, an aging but beautiful Latina actress trying to pass for 28 years old. She’s bitter about getting older and blames Ana (Longoria) for the fact that she is no longer a leading lady. Isabella will do whatever it takes to claw her way back into the spotlight.
Source:
Deadline
Kelly Jenrette Joins 'Grandpa'
Kelly Jenrette (Frisky Dingo) has booked a series regular role opposite John Stamos in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Grandpa, from ABC Studios and 20th TV. Grandpa centers on Jimmy (Stamos), a charismatic longtime bachelor whose life is upended when he discovers he’s a father — and a grandfather. Jenrette, will play Annalise, the assistant manager at Jimmy’s restaurant.
Source:
Deadline
Samantha Logan & Jordan Calloway Join 'Studio City'
Samantha Logan (The Fosters), Jordan Calloway (Drumline: A New Beat) and Timothy Granaderos have joined the cast of Fox’s family dramedy pilot Studio City.
Logan, will play Emma, Rob’s (McCormack) daughter and Cat’s (Pugh) half-sister. Calloway will play Griffin, a local skateboarder who connects with Cat upon her arrival, Granaderos is Mateo, the teenaged son of Stevie (Heather Graham), and an accomplished graffiti artist who is not afraid to go to juvie for his art.
Source:
Deadline
Nicholas Gonzalez Joins ‘Lucifer'
Nicholas Gonzalez (Sleepy Hollow) has landed a series regular role in Fox’s comic book drama pilot Lucifer.
Gonzalez, will play Dan, a gruff LAPD homicide detective, who is wary of Lucifer’s (Ellis) involvement with his wife and daughter.
Source:
Deadline
James Roday To Star In ABC Molyneux Comedy Pilot
UPDATED: Psych star James Roday is set as the male lead opposite Melanie Griffith in ABC’s untitled Molyneux comedy pilot (aka The Brainy Bunch), from Imagine TV and 20th TV.
The single-camera Molyneux project, written/executive produced by Wendy & Lizzie Molyneux and directed by Jamie Travis, is inspired by the book by Kip and Mona Lisa Harding. Through a combination of genetics and dynamic home schooling, Kip (Roday) and Mona Lisa Mitchell find themselves raising extraordinarily intelligent kids. Kip is a former Special Forces Operations sergeant, now a stay-at-home father to his seven brilliant children. Griffith plays Kip’s mother-in-law who takes them into her Orange County home. Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo executive produce.
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Deadline
Kieran Bew Cast As Lead In ITV’s ‘Beowulf’
Kieran Bew (Da Vinci’s Demons) has been cast to play the lead role of Beowulf in ITV’s epic re-imagining of the iconic Old English poem following the exploits of the titular warrior as he battles a fearsome monster during Britain’s Dark Ages.
Kieran will star alongside William Hurt (Humans), and Joanne Whalley (Wolf Hall). Created by James Dormer (Strike Back), Tim Haines (Primeval) and Katie Newman (Primeval), the action-packed 13 part series is produced by ITV Studios and set in the mythical Shieldlands, a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures. Dormer will write and exec produce.
Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey) and David Ajala (Black Box) have also been cast along with Ian Puleston- Davies (Coronation Street), Ellora Torchia (Indian Summers), Gisli Orn Gardarsson (Spooks and Spirits) Susan Aderin (The Last Detective), Kirsty Oswald (Ripper Street), Laura Donnelly (Outlander), Edward Hogg (Indian Summers), Alex Price (Father Brown), Jack Rowan (Silent Witness) and Itoya Osagiede (Okora: The Prelude).
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Deadline
Kristen Hager & Christine Evangelista To Star In ABC Pilot ‘The Adversaries’
Being Human alumna Kristen Hager has landed the female lead opposite Terry O’Quinn in ABC drama pilot The Adversaries. Also cast in the project, from writer/executive producer David Zabel and ABC Studios, is Christine Evangelista (Chicago Fire).
Adversaries centers on the patriarch of a New York legal dynasty, Charles Fisher (O’Quinn), who becomes embroiled in a trial of his own, and his federal prosecutor daughter Jess (Hager) must decide which side she will fight on. Evangelista plays Jess’ younger sister Emma who works at her dad’s law firm as a paralegal. Christine Lahti co-stars as Jess and Emma’ mom and Charles’ estranged wife.
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Deadline
Jennifer Carpenter To Co-Star In CBS Pilot ‘Limitless’
Dexter alumna Jennifer Carpenter is set as the female lead opposite Jake McDorman in CBS’ drama pilot Limitless, based on the 2011 feature starring Bradley Cooper.
Carpenter plays Rebecca, ’ a dynamic investigator who has risen quickly within the FBI, but hasn’t come to terms yet with her background that initially drove her into a career in law enforcement.
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Deadline
Rarmian Newton Joins Untitled ABC/Jenna Bans Pilot
Australian actor Rarmian Newton (Dance Academy) has signed on for a series regular role in the untitled ABC/ABC Studios drama pilot written by Jenna Bans and directed by Paul McGuigan. Newton, will play young Danny Warren the wise-ass, abrasive athlete Zach Gilford’s character was 12 years ago.
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Deadline
Amir Talai Joins ""The King of 7B'
Amir Talai (Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay) has booked a series regular role in ABC’s single-camera comedy pilot The King Of 7B. The ensemble project focuses on Prentiss Porter (Craig Ferguson), an agoraphobic recluse who ventures outside for the first time in 11 years when he spies what could be his soulmate moving into the building across the street. Talai will play Darren, the deluded millennial owner of the bodega in the building where Porter lives.
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Deadline
Jonathan Slavin and Krista Marie Yu Join 'Dr. Ken'
Jonathan Slavin (Better Off Ted) and Krista Marie Yu (The Thundermans) have been cast opposite Ken Jeong in the ABC comedy pilot Dr. Ken from Sony TV and ABC Studios. Dr. Ken stars Jeong as a frustrated HMO doctor juggling medicine, marriage and parenting — and succeeding at none of them. Slavin, is Hector, a dim-witted but big-hearted nurse who is loyal to his boss and friend, Ken. Yu will play Molly, Ken’s daughter who is trying to rebel.
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Deadline
Amber Valletta Joins ABC Drama Pilot ‘Boom'
Revenge and Legends alumna Amber Valletta is set to co-star opposite Chace Crawford and Don Johnson in ABC drama pilot Boom. Actress-model Valletta, plays oil tycoon Hap’s (Johnson’s) glamorous, brilliant young new wife, an ex-Goldman Sachs oil-desk type with a masters from Wharton who also is his sharp-as-ice business partner.
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Deadline
Nichole Bloom Joins 'Superstore'
Nichole Bloom (Shameless) has booked a regular role in NBC comedy pilot Superstore. Superstore is about a group of employees at a big-box store and examines love, friendship and the beauty of everyday moments. Bloom, will play Cheyenne, a very pregnant teenage employee who’s sweet, unsophisticated, and naive — as evidenced by the fact that she allows customers to purchase laptop computers for the mismarked price of 25 cents.
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Deadline
Andy Ridings Joins 'Take It From Us'
Andy Ridings (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) is set as a regular in the NBC comedy pilot Take It From Us. Described as a love story told in flashbacks in 1990s New York, Take It From Us is about a couple, Alyson and Lucas, who tells their son the lessons they learned growing up in the ’90s in hopes he and his fiancée can avoid making the same mistakes. Ridings, will play Spencer, a cocky, self-proclaimed genius who is really not that bright.
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Deadline
Maya Erskine Joins 'Heart Matters'
Maya Erskine (Man Seeking Woman) has joined the cast of NBC’s drama pilot Heart Matters.
Erskine will play Gi Sung, a nurse with a dry wit who works closely with Dr. Panttiere (George) and is probably the only female staff member who gets along with her.
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Deadline
Ed Westwick Joins ‘L.A. Crime'
Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick has landed one of the male leads in ABC’s drama pilot L.A. Crime, from ABC Studios and Mandeville.
Westwick will play Kent, a twisted serial killer who preys on young women who have come to L.A. to become famous.
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Deadline
Morgan Spector Joins ABC Pilot ‘Broad Squad
Five days after NBC pulled Allegiance, the series’ co-star Morgan Spector has landed a new series regular gig: a male lead role in ABC’s period female-cop procedural drama pilot Broad Squad.
Spector plays Tommy Anthony, a scruffy, sideburned, loose cannon of a cop who sidles up to Lisa at a bar, unprepared for her outpouring of vitriol. He’s later assigned as Lisa’s training officer, and they navigate a complex relationship, both of them strong-willed and unaccepting of each other.
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Deadline
Riley Smith Cast In ‘Studio City’
True Blood alum Riley Smith has been cast opposite Eric McCormick and Florence Pugh in Fox’s family dramedy pilot Studio City.
Studio City is set in present-day Studio City, CA and tells the story of a young singer’s (Pugh) path to stardom, as she comes of age living with her songwriter father Rob (McCormack) — who turns out to be a drug dealer to the stars. Smith plays Jax, a hip, sexy, charismatic rocker dude musician and Rob’s songwriting partner.
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Deadline
Paget Brewster To Co-Star In John Stamos Fox Comedy Pilot ‘Grandpa’
Brewster plays Jimmy’s old girlfriend Sara, a former rocker chick who became pregnant with his child 26 years ago, but has raised their child, Gerald, single-handedly. She never made Jimmy aware of his son’s existence — but now, Gerald wants a strong father figure to teach him how to navigate the rocky shoals of romance, so Sara is forced to disrupt Jimmy’s long bachelorhood at long last. She’s seemingly contemptuous of his bachelor persona — but underneath, their old attraction may still be simmering on the back.
Source:
Deadline
Caitlin Carver & Y