PILOT, TV & SERIES CASTING (8.7.15)
CBS
Peter Gallagher has been cast in a recurring role on the upcoming seventh season of THE GOOD WIFE. He will play an attorney of Oliver Platt’s billionaire Reese Dipple, who’s been dispatched to Lockart/Agos/Lee. Gallagher is repped by Gersh and John Carrabino Management.
COMEDY CENTRAL
Former SNL cast member Noel Wells and real-life boyfriend Flint Wainess have sold a pilot to Comedy Central loosely based on their lives. Titled BAD COUPLE, the story centers on the two as an inseparable, highly opinionated couple constantly clashing with modern social mores. The duo are also consulting producers on Netflix’s upcoming animated Green Eggs and Ham series. Wells is repped by ICM and DPN Talent. Wainess is repped by UTA and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment.
FOX
Fox is currently in negotiations with Marvel to develop an X-MEN series. Evan Katz and Manny Coto are serving as showrunners, with Star Trek 3‘s J.D. Payne and Patrick Mckay as executive producers. It is expected to feature familiar characters from the comic books and movies, although some bigger names will stay exclusive to features.
A crossover event between long-running crime procedural BONES and horror drama SLEEPY HOLLOW has been announced, and will air on Thursday, October 29, just in time for Halloween. The discovery of human remains leads Emily Deschanel’s Brennan and David Boreanaz’s Booth on a hunt for clues, where they encounter Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) and Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie).
EMPIRE has added two more guest stars, with the addition of rapper Pitbull, real name Armando Perez, and songstress Mariah Carey. They join recently announced Ludacris in the latest of real-life musicians appearing on the hip-hop drama. Perez is repped by CAA. Carey is repped by UTA and Untitled Entertainment.
Jason Sudeikis has booked a guest starring role on season two of quirky comedy THE LAST MAN ON EARTH. He will play the brother of his former SNL co-star Will Forte, an astronaut stuck in space while the virus destroyed the world’s population. The Last Man on Earth returns September 27. Sudeikis is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment.
Lee Daniels has sold another pilot to Fox. The network ordered music business drama STAR from the Empire creator, which focuses on a girl band trying to make it big in Atlanta. Daniels directed the pilot, which falls under an overall deal the filmmaker recently signed with 20th Century Fox TV. Daniels is repped by CAA.
FX
Glee‘s Darren Criss is set to reteam with creator Ryan Murphy in the upcoming AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL. He will play a Silver Lake hipster who checks into the titular hotel with his girlfriend. Witches of East End‘s Madchen Amick was also recently announced. They join a packed cast of Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Evan Peters, Finn Wittrock, Chloe Sevigny, Wes Bentley, and Cheyenne Jackson. American Horror Story returns in October. Criss is repped by CAA. Amick is repped by Gersh.
FX has ordered pilot BETTER THINGS from Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon to series. The comedy is loosely based on Adlon’s life as a working actor raising her daughters. Aldon and C.K. co-wrote the pilot, which was directed by C.K. Aldon has appeared on C.K.’s Louie before, garnering her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. C.K. is repped by APA and 3 Arts Entertainment. Adlon is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment.
FX has officially renewed vampire drama THE STRAIN. The Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cruse show will return for a third season in summer 2016.
HBO
HBO has ordered two new pilots from David Simon, continuing their relationship with the Treme and The Wire creator. The first, THE DEUCE, is a drama set in New York City in the ’70s/’80s that will explore the burgeoning porn industry. James Franco is attached to star as both of a pair of identical twins who became fronts for Mob control of the sex industry in Times Square. Breaking Bad’s Michelle MacLaren is attached to direct. The second is an as-yet untitled political drama set against the modern-day backdrop of Capitol Hill. Simon is repped by CAA. Franco is repped by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment. MacLaren is repped by ICM.
HULU
In bad news for Hannibal fans hoping for a last-minute save of the show, star Hugh Dancy has booked another leading role. He will star in Hulu’s upcoming cult drama THE WAY, alongside Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan. Dancy will play charismatic cult leader Cal Roberts in the show which is scheduled to begin shooting in September and will premiere sometime next year. Dancy is repped by United Agents.
NBC
Uzo Aduba and Glee‘s Amber Riley have joined the cast of NBC’s live production of THE WIZ. Aduba, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on Orange is the New Black, will play Glinda the Good Witch of the South, while Riley will play her sister, Addaperle, the Good Witch of The North. They join recently announced newcomer Shanice Williams in the production, which will air on December 3. Aduba is repped by APA and Management 360. Riley is repped by Coast to Coast Talent.
SHOWTIME
Carla Gugino has been cast as the lead in Cameron Crowe’s Showtime pilot ROADIES. She will replace Christina Hendricks as leading lady Sheli, partner to the band’s tour manager, played by Luke Wilson. Gugino is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.
