TV Show News

TV Casting: DEAD PEOPLE, SEX CRIMINALS, Lady Gaga in AMERICAN HORROR STORY [Updated]

Lady Gaga

Dead People, Sex Criminals, American Horror Story, and other TV productions have made recent TV show casting, TV movie casting, and TV directing news. These shows and movies air on The CW and FX.

Minority Report (FX)

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Laura Regan is joining Fox’s drama pilot Minority Report

Regan will play Agatha, the deeply compassionate foster sister of identical twins Dash and Arthur. Like her brothers, she possesses the ability to see into the future, but with more clarity than they can.

Warrior (NBC)

Rila Fukushima (The Wolverine) has been cast in Warrior…Fukushima…will play Tasu, Koto’s daughter. In reality, she lies in a coma in her dad’s apartment, but she appears to Kai (Martinez) in her dreams or when she’s unconscious.

Sneaky Pete (CBS)

Peter Gerety (A Most Violent Year, Prime Suspect) has been cast opposite Margo Martindale in CBS drama pilot Sneaky Pete, written and executive produced by Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston and House creator David Shore for Sony TV…Gerety…will play Otto, who with his wife Audrey (Martindale), is trying to keep the family bail bond business afloat when Pete shows up on their door step.

Margo Martindale is returning to CBS with a co-starring role in drama pilot Sneaky Pete…Martindale will play Audrey, who with her husband is trying to keep the family bail bond business afloat when Pete shows up on their door step.

Code Black (CBS)

Maggie Grace is set as the female lead in CBS pilot Code Black, a medical drama written by Michael Seitzman and directed by David Semel.

Grace will play Leanne, the residency director in the ER, a force of nature and a force to be reckoned with.

Melanie Kannokada has joined the cast of CBS drama pilot Code Black…Kannokada…will play Malaya, a doctor who is starting her residency.

Problem Child (NBC)

Erinn Hayes is set as the female lead in Problem Child, NBC’s single-camera comedy pilot…written by Scot Armstrong, is described as a family show about the cat-and-mouse game between a set of parents and their brilliant but mischievous child. Hayes…has been cast as the mom

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Game Of Silence (NBC)

Bre Blair (Last Vegas), Conor O’Farrell (CSI) and Demetrius Grosse (Justified, Banshee) are set to co-star opposite David Lyons in NBC’s drama pilot Game Of Silence…Game Of Silence centers on Jackson (Lyons), a rising attorney on the brink of success who could lose his perfectly crafted life when his long-lost childhood friends threaten to expose a dark secret from their violent past.

Blair…will play the female lead, Jessie, who was in love with Jackson when they were 14. When they were 19, they shared a horrific moment no one else knows about. Jessie is with Gil (Michael Raymond-James) now, but she’s stunned when she suddenly finds herself seeing Jackson again — because of their painful secret, and also because she might still have feelings for him.

O’Farrell plays Roy, the Warden at the boys prison who allowed boys to be exploited for forced labor outside the prison and also for sordid sex parties at his house. Now 65 years old and the lieutenant governor of the state, Roy is corrupt and self-serving, and about to embark on a campaign for Congress. He works closely with Terry (Grosse), who was at the boys prison camp years ago, and who now does a lot of Roy’s dirty work for him.

Untitled Dana Klein comedy pilot (Fox)

Brian Austin Green (The Wedding Band) and Super Fun Night alumna Liza Lapira are set to co-star opposite Jenna Elfman in Fox’s untitled Dana Klein comedy pilot…Written/exec produced by Klein and directed by Pam Fryman, it is told from the point of view of Ellen (Elfman), a working mom who is in constant competition with her perfect, stay-at-home sister-in-law Amy (Lapira). Green plays Amy’s husband Jack Stanley, an undisciplined, laid back, rule breaker who pretty much does whatever he wants and doesn’t worry about the consequences (except when it comes to his wife, Amy, who terrifies him).

The Bastard Executioner (FX)

the pilot [was] written by [Kurt Sutter] and directed by SOA’s Paris Barclay

Lee Jones…plays the lead, the tall, dark and imposing Wilkin Brattle. The emotionally deep, spiritually tortured former knight in the charge of King Edward I now lives a simple agrarian life.

Stephen Moyer plays the street smart and noble savvy Milus Corbett. He was one of Ventris’ marshals in the army. Now, serves as his Chamberlain, Chancellor and Justiciar. Friend and drinking mate.

Katey Sagal plays Annora of the Alders: Prescient, mystical and beautiful. She offers predictions, cures and potions.

Flora Spencer-Longhurst is Baroness Lowry ‘Love’ Aberffraw Ventris: As cunning as she is kind and beautiful. From a wealthy Welsh family, she married Ventris at 17 to protect her family’s land. Her noble duties always in conflict with her Welsh pride.

Kurt Sutter is The Dark Mute: Mate and guardian of Annora. Speaks rarely, no one’s ever seen his face.

Sam Spruell plays Toran Prichard: Fierce, tenacious. An archer under Madog Llywelyn in the last major Welsh rebellion. He put down the bow and picked up the hoe. Wilkin’s best mate.

Darren Evans (Galavant) plays Ash y Goedwig: Wiry, smart. A trapper. An orphan “of the woods”. Friend of Wilkin.

Danny Sapani (Penny Dreadful) plays Berber the Moor: A large, educated man. Converted Muslim. A farmer. Friend of Wilkin.

Timothy V. Murphy is Father Ruskin: A Brawny. Gentle, with bottled fury. Former soldier. Left the military for the seminary. Priest, rector and teacher of the court.

Sarah White is Isabel Kiffin: Tall, slight. Awkward and innocent. Lady Love’s handmaiden and trusted confidant.

Sarah Sweeny is Jessamy Maddox: Pretty, hardened by abuse. The executioner’s wife.

In a guest-starring role, Matthew Rhys plays Gruffudd y Blaidd: Smart, fearless, of noble blood. The Wolf. Leader of the Welsh rebels, Byth Encil.

Blunt Talk (Starz)

Ed Begley Jr. (Arrested Development, St. Elsewhere), Mary Holland (Silicon Valley, Parks And Recreation), Karan Soni (Safety Not Guaranteed, Betas) and Romany Malco (Think Like A Man, Top Five) have been cast in recurring roles on the series.

Additionally musician and actor Moby, Sharon Lawrence (Rizzoli & Isles, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Trace Lysette (Transparent), Golden Brooks (Girlfriends), Windell D. Middlebrooks (Body Of Proof, Scrubs) and Steve Valentine (Anger Management) will be making guest star appearances in the series.

The character-driven comedy revolves around Walter Blunt (Patrick Stewart), an infrequently sober but legendary British import intent on conquering the world of American cable news. The series follows the fallout from Blunt’s well-intentioned but mostly misguided decision-making, both on and off the air. Richard Lewis recurs as Dr. Weiss, Blunt’s appointed therapist, and Jacki Weaver, Adrian Scarborough, Dolly Wells, and Timm Sharp round out the cast.

Cordon (The CW)

CW drama pilot Cordon has set its leads, casting David Gyasi (Interstellar), Christina Moses, Chris Wood and Kristen Gutoskie. Written by The Vampire Diaries and The Originals showrunner Julie Plec…directed by David Nutter, Cordon chronicles the aftermath of a deadly epidemic outbreak in Atlanta.

Gyasi and Moses will play the central characters, marking the first time the CW has had a black leading duo. Gyasi plays Atlanta police major Alex “Lex” Carnahan, a resolute, loyal and good-hearted police officer who’s responsible for maintaining the cordoned area. Moses plays Jana, Lex’s capable girlfriend, who’s trapped inside the Cordon in an Atlanta office high-rise.

Plec has recruited The Vampire Diaries recurring player Wood to play Jake, a former renegade turned cop and Lex’s best friend who finds himself trapped inside the cordon. Gutoskie plays Katie, a twenty-something grade-school teacher and single mother who’s trapped inside the walls of Atlanta Midtown Hospital.

L.A. Crime (ABC)

Erika Christensen is taking…a lead role in ABC’s drama pilot L.A. Crime

The character-driven, “true-crime” procedural, written by Steven Baigelman and directed by Tom Shankland…In Season 1, two LA cops will be searching for a Bonnie & Clyde-esque serial-killing team amidst the coke-infused rock ‘n’ roll, revelry of the 1980s Sunset Strip. Christensen, who has signed a one-year deal, will play Betty, a single mother who was supposed to be a killer’s latest victim but enters a romantic relationship with him instead.

Runner (ABC)

Paula Patton (Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol) has signed on for the lead in ABC drama pilot Runner

Written by Michael Cooney…directed by Michael Offer…is to guns what Traffic was to drugs and delves into the traditionally masculine world of arms dealing through the lens of a woman. It centers on Lauren Marks (Patton), a wife and mother who had believed her husband had died in a plane crash, only to discover him alive, well and traveling with a mysterious woman who uses Lauren’s stolen identity. Thrown into a world of secrets and crime, Lauren finds herself running into Mexican cartels and people from her past she had hoped to forget.

War And Peace (BBC)

Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton are already aboard to star, with new additions to the cast including Jim Broadbent, Gillian Anderson, Brian Cox and Ken Stott. The epic drama is written by House Of Cards and Bridget Jones‘ Andrew Davies.

Previously announced cast also includes Stephen Rea, Greta Scacchi, Jack Lowden, Tom Burke and Aisling Loftus. Also joining are Rebecca Front (Death Comes To Pemberley), Kenneth Cranham (In The Flesh), Aneurin Barnard (Cilla), Tuppence Middleton (The Imitation Game), Callum Turner (Queen And Country) and Jessie Buckley (Endeavour).

Peaky Blinders‘ and The Woman In Black 2‘s Tom Harper is directing

48 Hours ‘Til Monday (Fox)

Rob Riggle is set as the lead in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot 48 Hours ‘Til Monday, written/exec produced by Charlie Grandy. Also cast in the project…is Jane Curtin. Hours chronicles husband and father of three Charlie’s (Riggle) desperate struggle not to let every weekend go completely to hell. Curtin…will play Charlie’s cigarette-smoking mother-in-law, Louise, who, along with her husband, lives in his house and displays her relaxed attitude toward child-rearing when forced to babysit.

The 46 Percenters (ABC)

Angela Kinsey is set as a lead in ABC’s multi-camera comedy pilot The 46 Percenters…The 46 Percenters is described as an unromantic romantic comedy about the 46% of the population who choose to stay married as told through the POV of three couples. Kinsey will play half of one of the couples, Marni, a wife and mother.

Scream Queens (Fox)

Lucien Laviscount (One Night In Istanbul) has been tapped for a series regular role on Scream Queens…Laviscount will join an ensemble cast that includes Lea Michele, Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma Roberts, Nick Jonas, Keke Palmer, Joe Manganiello and Abigail Breslin.

How We Live (NBC)

Andrea Anders (Joey) has landed a regular role in NBC’s single-camera comedy pilot How We Live, written/executive produced by Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley (Happy Endings)…the project centers on Russell, a blogger, and his wife Holly who move to the suburbs where he begins writing about marriage and the family lives of his suburban friends and neighbors, in the style of an anthropologist who has stumbled on an undiscovered tribe. Anders will play Natalie, a stay-at-home mom who is Holly’s best friend.

Ms. (HBO)

HBO is revisiting the life and career of feminist icon Gloria Steinem with Ms., a miniseries that would star Oscar winner Marisa Tomei as the journalist and social activist…The mini takes a look at the creation of Ms. Magazine in 1971 through the eyes of the the woman who co-founded and ran it, Steinem (Tomei), and her best friend, member of the US House of Representatives Bella Abzug (Najimy). The project also will reflect on those whose lives Ms. changed during the world-altering early days of the Women’s Movement.

Chicago Fire (NBC)

Oliver Platt has been tapped to co-star in NBC’s Chicago Fire planted spinoff, Chicago Med…Platt will play the intelligent head of psychiatry, Dr. Daniel Charles.

Angels in the Snow (UP TV)

Kristy Swanson…has signed on for the UP TV Christmas movie “Angels in the Snow”

Based on the Rexanne Becnel novel “Christmas Journey,” the domestic drama revolves around two very different families who find themselves snowbound together in a luxurious cabin during a Christmas blizzard. The affluent yet troubled Montgomery family is headed by workaholic real estate developer Charles (played by Chris Potter of UP’s “Heartland”) and his wife Judith (Swanson) a former New York fashion editor who he’s trying to mend fences with.

The cast also includes Colin Lawrence (“The 100″), Catherine Lough Haggquist (“Continuum”) and Nick Purcha (“iZombie”), among others.

George Erschbamer (“My Mother’s Future Husband,” “My Name Is Sarah”) is directing.

Heart Matters (NBC)

Melissa George has been cast as the lead in NBC’s medical drama pilot “Heart Matters”

“Heart Matters” follows a talented female heart transplant surgeon, Alex Panttiere (George), who balances her work with the complications of her romantic and personal life.

Described as charming, yet unconventional, impulsive and socially awkward at the worst possible times, Alex seemingly gets it all together, after being promoted to chief of innovation and becoming the “face” of the hospital, which forces her to forgo her sometimes messy, scrub-wearing self. Though she’s not Ivy League-educated, she holds her own with the competition and fights hard for her patients. While her work life seems to be soaring, she’s not so lucky in the love department, as she can’t seem to commit to the man she’s living with — perhaps because she has feelings for someone else.

The medical soap hails from pilot scribe Jill Gordon…Robbie Duncan McNeill will direct the pilot.

Sex Criminals (Uni TV)

Comic book power couple Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick are venturing into television with a two-year overall deal at Universal TV. Under the pact, the married duo will adapt some of their comic books as well as original TV series concepts. They also plan to use their Milkfed Criminal Masterminds production company as a TV launchpad for other comic creators’ IP.

One of the first projects the company is developing under the Uni TV deal is an adaptation of the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic Sex Criminals…[which] centers on a female librarian and male actor who discover they can freeze time when they orgasm.

American Horror Story (FX)

Joining the show is Lady Gaga…As usual, details of the pop star’s character are being kept under wraps. Details about the premise of the new installment beyond the title, AHS Hotel, also are TBA.

While no other cast members have been confirmed for Season 5 yet, members of the core AHS troupe that have appeared in multiple installments are likely to return. Star Jessica Lange had said she planned to leave after AHS’ most recent fourth season, Freak Show, but left the door to coming back slightly open, contingent on hearing what her new character would be.

Dead People (The CW)

Andrew J. West has landed the lead in another genre project with “dead” in the title: the CW pilot Dead People, from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV. Written/executive produced by Californication creator Tom Kapinos, Dead People centers on Floyd (West), down-on-his-luck, semi-alcoholic but roguishly charming cab driver. After a near-death experience when he is pronounced dead following an accident but is revived two minutes later, Floyd suddenly has the ability to interact with ghosts, including his late ex-wife who he has never gotten over.

Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life (Fox)

James Earl (Gridiron Gang) has been cast in Fox’s comedy pilot Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life from 20th Century Fox TV and Gail Berman’s the Jackal Group. Written by Jay Lacopo…Earl…will play Cooper Barrett’s roommate Barry.

Quantico (ABC)

Aunjanue Ellis (The Book Of Negroes) is set for a lead role opposite Tate Ellington in ABC’s drama pilot Quantico…Ellis…will play Miranda, the Director of Quantico, overseeing the training of a new group of recruits.

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Source: Thewrap

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Rollo Tomasi

Rollo Tomasi is a Connecticut-based film critic, TV show critic, news, and editorial writer. He will have a MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University in 2025. Rollo has written over 700 film, TV show, short film, Blu-ray, and 4K-Ultra reviews. His reviews are published in IMDb's External Reviews and in Google News. Previously you could find his work at Empire Movies, Blogcritics, and AltFilmGuide. Now you can find his work at FilmBook.
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