Starz continues fill out their cast for the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s AMERICAN GODS as they add Cloris Leachman, Peter Stormare, Chris Obi, and Mousa Kraish. The fantasy novel posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity, and drugs. It stars Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon, an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), a conman who in reality is one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.
Leachman has been cast as Zorya Vechernyaya, the eldest of three sisters who watch over the constellations, guarding against horror forgotten by modern man. Stormare will play Czernobog, a Slavic god of darkness and evil, who is reluctant to join the coming war, wary of Wednesday’s motivations. Obi will play Anubis, the commanding ancient Egyptian god of the dead, gently guiding mortals through the judgment of their souls. Kraish is set as The Jinn, a mythical creature of the fire who understands a person’s deepest desires better than they do.
Leachman is repped by Innovative Artists and Juliet Green Management. Stormare is repped by ICM Partners and Silver Lining Entertainment. Obi is repped by Gersh, United Agents, and Untitled Entertainment. Kraish is repped by Stone Manners Salners Agency and Velocity Entertainment Partners.
The BBC and Sally Wainwright have found their cast for TO WALK INVISIBLE, a drama about the Bronte family. Jonathan Pryce is set to play family patriarch Rev. Patrick Bronte, while Chloe Pirrie will tackle Wuthering Heights author Emily Bronte. Finn Atkins will portray Charlotte Bronte, write of Jane Eyre, and Charlie Murphy is set as youngest sister Anne Bronte who penned Agnes Grey and The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall. Adam Nagaitis has won the role of the ladies’ brother Branwell, whose destructive behavior threatens to tear the family apart.
Pryce is repped by UTA and Julian Belfrage & Associates in the UK. Pirrie is repped by UTA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and The Artists Partnership in the UK. Murphy is repped by Gersh and Lisa Richards Agency in Ireland. Nagaitis is repped by Curtis Brown Group.
FX comedy series BETTER THINGS has cast Celia Imrie opposite Pamela Adlon. The series centers on Sam (Adlon), a working actor with no filter trying to earn a living, navigate her daughters’ lives, have fun with a friend or two and also – just maybe – squeeze in some private time once in awhile. Imrie is set as Phyllis, Sam’s spotlight-stealing English mother.
Imrie is repped by Don Buchwald Associates, Magnolia Entertainment, and United Agents in the UK.
RECTIFY has tapped Rebecca Tilney for a recurring role in the final season. The series follows Daniel Holden, who is released after serving nearly 20 years in complete isolation on death row, as he returns as an outsider to his family, to his community, and to the times. Tilney has been cast as New Canaan Project Director Maggie Hines.
Tilney is repped by Impact Artists Group.
Jess Weixler has booked THE SON, AMC’s upcoming drama series based on the book by Philipp Meyer. It is a multi-generational epic tale of the story of America’s birth as a superpower through the bloody rise and fall of one Texas family. Weixler is set as Sally, Pete’s (Henry Garrett) tough, no-nonsense wife.
Weixler is repped by Gersh and Mosaic.
Ulrich Thomsen has landed a recurring role in the fourth season of THE BLACKLIST. He will play charismatic businessman Alexander Kirk, a charismatic businessman whose strong personal ethics and intelligence have made him a major player on the world stage.
Thomsen is reppd by Greene & Associates Talent Agency, Caserta Management, and Troika Talent Agency in the UK.
Todd Grinnell has booked a co-starring role in ONE DAY AT A TIME, Netflix’s remake of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom. The series centers on Penelope, a recently separated former military mom who is navigating a new single life while raising her radical teenage daughter and socially adept tween son, with “help” of her old-school Cuban-born mom and a friends-without-benefits building named Schneider. Grinnell plays, Schneider, the only character from the original show to be transplanted in the reboot.
Grinnell is repped by Gersh and Gartner/Green.
Emily J | Staff Writer
