Chris Sacca, a venture investor and entrepreneur, as well as a “guest shark” on Shark Tank will be playing himself in ABC’s upcoming untitled start-up comedy pilot. The pilot is based on the Alex Blumberg and Gimlet Media podcast Start Up. The first season focused on the rise of Gimlet, which Sacca is an investor in.
Former Heroes recurring cast member Shalim Ortiz has landed the co-lead role in ABC’s drama pilot LAS REINAS alongside Daniella Alonso. Written by Dean Georgaris and directed by Liz Friedlander, the story follows Detective Alex De La Reina who’s forced to reconnect with her estranged family while working on a case about a criminal group in Miami. Ortiz will play Diego, Alex’s brother who’s getting increasingly involved in the crime ring.
Ortiz is repped by Rothman/Andrés Entertainment.
The medical drama pilot THE GOOD DOCTOR has added Beau Garrett to appear alongside Freddie Highmore and Richard Schiff. From House creator David Shore and Lost alum Daniel Dae Kim, the series follows a young doctor (Highmore) who has Savant syndrome. Garrett will play Jessica Preston, a hospital board member.
Garrett is repped by Paradigm and LINK Entertainment.
Two actors have landed recurring roles in the upcoming CBS summer drama SALVATION opposite Charlie Rowe and Santiago Cabrera: Dennis Boutsikaris and Aaron Poole. The series follows MIT grad student Liam (Rowe) and tech billionaire Darius (Cabrera) who discover an asteroid is set to collide with Earth. Boutsikaris will play an MIT professor, while Poole has landed the role of Lazlo, a childhood friend of Darius.
Boutsikaris is repped by AKA Talent Agency and Stewart Talent.
Poole is repped by Abrams Artists Agency, Gary Goddard Agency in Canada, and Primary Wave Entertainment.
Former Bones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star David Boreanaz has landed the lead role in CBS’ Navy SEAL drama pilot. The role in question, Jason, the leader of an assault team with his fair share of ghosts and scars, had previously belonged to Jim Caviezel before he departed ways from the network. The pilot is written by Ben Cavell and directed by Chris Chulack.
Boreanaz is repped by CAA and Visionary Entertainment.
The comedy pilot REAL LIFE has tapped Kirsten Johnston as a series regular opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse. The series follow two 20-something friends who go from working on opposite coasts to working in the same office. Johnson will play Rittenhouse’s boss, Beverly, who’s described as loud, confident, and fabulous.
Johnston is repped by Paradigm.
Jaleel White is joining the comedy pilot ME, MYSELF & I as a series regular. White is set to play Darryl, the best friend of the main character who the series chronicles over 50 years of his life, who offers guidance and support. The pilot is written by Dan Kopelman and directed by Randall Einhorn.
White is repped by Mavrick Artists Agency and Snyder Management.
The Following and Dexter alum Valeria Cruz has booked a series regular role on THE RESIDENT, an upcoming Fox medical drama pilot. The story follows a new, young, idealistic doctor played by Manish Dayal who’s placed under the supervision of the tough and cocky senior resident Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry). Cruz is set to appear as the hospital’s CEO, Renata Lopez.
Cruz is repped by Domain and Pearl Hanan Management.
Joining Michael Urie and Annie Mumolo in AMY’S BROTHER, the new Fox comedy, is Sawyer Barth. The series follows an unconventional family when the Type A brother (Urie) finds himself living with his sister (Mumolo) and her two children, one of whom will be played by Barth.
Barth is repped by CESD and Noble Talent Management.
The new season of FARGO has added The Real O’Neals’ Olivia Sandoval as police officer Winnie Lopez. Set in 2010, the new season also stars Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and David Thewlis. Sandoval’s Winnie has no filter in the town of St. Cloud and is willing to share her thoughts on everything, including being a female cop. The season will premiere in April.
Sandoval is repped by Gersh and LINK Entertainment.
Star Trek‘s John Cho is joining the Hulu series DIFFICULT PEOPLE in a recurring role as Billy’s (Eichner) boyfriend Todd. It turns out Todd meets Billy as they attempt to continually one-up one another before actually ending up as a couple. The new season is slated to debut on the streaming service this summer.
Cho is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.
British actor JJ Feild and Latarsha Rose have landed series regular roles in the upcoming and untitled medical drama on NBC. From Law & Order‘s Warren Leight and Paul Haggis, the series follows an understaff Brooklyn hospital. When a hurricane wreaks havoc, the medical center becomes the only viable trauma center. Feild will play Dr. Peter Riley while Rose is set as frontline nurse Audra.
Feild is repped by Paradigm, The Artists Partnership in the U.K., and Mosaic.
Rose is repped by Bleecker Street Entertainment.
UNSOLVED, USA’s upcoming true crime series about the deaths of Tupac and Biggie has added three new cast members: Luke James, Aisha Hinds, Letoya Luckett. The series is written by Kyle Long. James will play Sean Combs; Hinds will appear as Voletta Wallace, the mother of Biggie Smalls; and Luckett has landed the role of Sharitha Golden.
James is repped by ICM and JME Management.
Hinds is repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency.
Luckett is repped by ICM.
Anya Crittenton | Associate Editor
