TV Casting: STARGIRL; BATWOMAN; Natalie Dormer in PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS; & More [Updated]

Stargirl, Batwoman, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and other TV Show Casting

Stargirl, Batwoman, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, 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, Amazon Prime, Netflix, CBS, Fox, NBC, DC Universe, Showtime, Syfy, and HBO. Beware of spoilers in these casting announcements.

Altered Carbon (Netflix)

Anthony Mackie has been cast as Takeshi Kovacs,  a “former soldier who became a revolutionary, then a mercenary for hire. Aggressively independent, Kovacs swears allegiance to no man or woman except one: Quellcrist Falconer. His undying quest to reconnect with her spans multiple centuries, planets and sleeves.”

Renee Elise Goldsberry has been cast as Quellcrist Falconer, a “fierce revolutionary leader with a deep bond to Takeshi Kovacs, Quell is primarily driven by her desire to reset the balance between life and death.”

Simone Missick has been cast as Trepp, “an expert bounty hunter. A morally grey character, Trepp is known for her ability to track down anyone in the Settled Worlds, for the right price.”

Dina Shihibi has been cast as Dig 301, “an out-of-work A.I. programmed to assist human archeologists who finds a new purpose when she meets Poe.”

Torben Liebrecht has been cast as Colonel Ivan Carrera, “the dogged leader of a Protectorate Special Forces who’s on the hunt for Takeshi Kovacs.

James Santo has been cast as Tanaseda Hideki, “a centuries-old Yakuza boss who controls organized crime on the planet of Harlan’s World and shares a history with the show’s main character.”

Altered Carbon Season 2 Casting Video

Stargirl (DC Universe)

Amy Smart has been cast as Barbara Whitmore, “the mother of Courtney Whitmore, a.k.a Stargirl. Now that her teenage daughter Courtney (Brec Bassinger) is older, Barbara is jumping back into the workforce and striving to be the best mother and provider she can be to her daughter, her new husband (Luke Wilson), and her new stepson (Romano).”

Trae Romano has been cast as Mike Dugan, “Pat’s overly-charming teenage son and Courtney’s new stepbrother.”

Neil Jackson has been cast in an unspecified role.

Hunter Sansone has been cast in an unspecified role.

This actor joins already cast: Luke Wilson, Henry Thomas, Joy Osmanski, Neil Hopkins, Nelson Lee, Joel McHale, Giancarlo Esposito, Anjelika Washington, and Brec Bassinger.

Stargirl‘s plot synopsis: “Stargirl will follows the story of Courtney Whitmore who is a smart, athletic and above all else kind girl. This high school teenager’s seemingly perfect life hits a major speedbump when her mother gets married and her new family moves from Los Angeles, California to Blue Valley, Nebraska. Struggling to adapt to a new school, make new friends and deal with a new step-family, Courtney discovers her step-father has a secret; he used to be the sidekick to a superhero. “Borrowing” the long-lost hero’s cosmic staff, Courtney becomes the unlikely inspiration for an entirely new generation of superheroes.

Geoff Johns will be writing the screenplays for the series.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Showtime)

LOS ANGELES – February 22, 2019 – SHOWTIME has announced that Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) will join PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS, the next chapter of the PENNY DREADFUL saga, in the role of Magda, a supernatural demon who can take the appearance of anyone she chooses and manifests in a number of guises throughout the story. Charismatic, clever and chameleonic, Magda is a dangerous enemy and an invaluable ally. Tony® and Golden Globe® award winner and three-time Oscar® nominee John Logan, creator, writer and executive producer of the Emmy nominated series PENNY DREADFUL, will continue in those same roles. Michael Aguilar (KIDDING) will also serve as executive producer. Production on the drama series is expected to begin later this year.

Dormer starred as fan favorite and would-be queen Margaery Tyrell for the first six seasons of Game Of Thrones. Dormer’s previous television credits include her starring role as Anne Boleyn on the hit SHOWTIME drama THE TUDORS, along with Picnic At Hanging Rock, The Scandalous Lady Woman and Elementary. In film, she starred in the indie psychological revenge thriller In Darkness, which she co-wrote with the film’s director Anthony Bryne. Previous film credits include the lead role in the supernatural thriller The Forest, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2, The Riot Club, Rush, The Counselor, W.E and Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger. She can also be seen in the upcoming film adaptation of The Professor and the Madman and The Dark Crystal.

A spiritual descendant of the original PENNY DREADFUL story set in Victorian-era London, PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS opens in 1938 Los Angeles, a time and place deeply infused with social and political tension. When a grisly murder shocks the city, Detective Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) is embroiled in an epic story that reflects the rich history of Los Angeles: from the building of the city’s first freeways and its deep traditions of Mexican-American folklore, to the dangerous espionage actions of the Third Reich and the rise of radio evangelism. Before long, Tiago and his family are grappling with powerful forces that threaten to tear them apart. PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS explores an exciting mix of the supernatural and the combustible reality of the period, creating new occult myths and moral dilemmas within a genuine historical backdrop. This chapter is a bold new vision that will employ all new characters and storylines. The series will also star Jessica Garza (The Purge) and Johnathan Nieves (New Amsterdam).
PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS is executive produced by John Logan and Michael Aguilar, along with Oscar® winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) and Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road), both of Neal Street Productions. Logan’s Desert Wolf Productions will produce, and James Bagley will serve as co-executive producer. Paco Cabezas (PENNY DREADFUL, The Alienist) is set to direct multiple episodes.

SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com.

Katy Keene (The CW)

Jonny Beauchamp has been cast as Jorge / Ginger Lopez, “who works at his family’s bodega during day. However, when the night comes, he goes by the name of Ginger, a drag queen who works as a bartender and performer at a local club.”

Julia Chan has been cast as Pepper Smith, a “New York City ‘It Girl’ [who is] the life of the party and dreams of one day opening her very own version of Andy Warhol’s Factory.”

This actor and actress join already cast Ashleigh Murray.

Katy Keene‘s plot synopsis: “In Katy Keene, the 20-something Josie McCoy has left the small town of Riverdale in pursuit of a new adventure in the Big City. More determined than ever to break into the music scene as the next Diana Ross, Josie finds herself forging new friendships, falling into new relationships, and, one day, becoming the star she is destined to be.”

Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and Michael Grassi wrote the screenplay for the Maggie Kiley-directed pilot episode.

Lincoln (NBC)

Seth Gordon has been selected to direct the pilot episode.

Lincoln‘s plot synopsis: based on the book series by Jeffery Deaver, “The story revolves around Lincoln Rhyme, an incredible forensic criminologist who suffers a horrible accident while hunting for the titular Bone Collector. Due to his bed-ridden condition, Lincoln teams up with a young beat cop in order to track down the serial killer, along with a slew of other high-profile cases.”

VJ Boyd and Mark Bianculliare writing the screenplay for the pilot episode.

Halo (Showtime)

Otto Bathurst has been selected to direct the TV series.

Halo‘s plot synopsis: based on the Xbox video game, “Halo will take place in the universe that first came to be in 2001, dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant. Halo will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure, and a richly imagined vision of the future.”

Kyle Killen will write the screenplays for the series.

Utopia (Amazon)

Dan Byrd has been cast as Ian, “a guy with a soul-stealing job who lives in a small apartment with his grandma in Canton, Ohio. With a desire to live a more exciting life, he embarks on a mission to uncover the secrets of the graphic novel Utopia.”

Cory Michael Smith has been cast as Thomas, “a bright, ambitious kid who works for his biotech scientist father. He becomes tasked with tracking down the only copy of the much sought after graphic novel Utopia.”

These actors join already cast Sasha Lane and Rainn Wilson.

Utopia‘s plot synopsis: “[Utopia] focuses on a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organization after they come into possession of a near-mythical cult underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and forced into the dangerous, unique, and ironic position of saving the world.”

Gillian Flynn wrote the screenplays for the series.

The Lost Boys (The CW)

Catherine Hardwicke has been selected to direct the pilot episode.

Tyler Posey has been cast as Michael Emerson.

Kiele Sanchez has been cast as Lucy Emerson, the mother of Michael Emerson and Sam Emerson.

Medalion Rahimi has been cast as Stella.

Dakota Shapiro has been cast as David, a vampire.

The Lost Boys‘ plot synopsis: based on the 1987 film directed by Joel Schumacher, “Still mourning the death of her husband, Lucy (Sanchez) is forced to move back home to Santa Carla — something she’s dreaded since causing a town scandal 27 years ago, when she ditched her boyfriend to run off with another man.
Photo: Gilles Bensimon

Lucy’s elder son Michael’s plan to attend Columbia Medical school is thrown off by the diagnosis that he shares the same genetic weakness that killed his father. The only thing that consoles him is the friendship he strikes up with Stella, a young woman who runs a concession stand on the Santa Carla boardwalk.

Stella, carefree and Californian, has an immediate spark with Michael, but she’s not single: Her boyfriend is the sexy, dangerous and immortal vampire David, who is sometimes scary and always intense. The leader of a vampire gang, he’s wildly in love with Stella, who’s the only one who can control him.”

Heather Mitchell wrote the screenplay for the pilot episode.

Prism (NBC)

Ramon Rodriguez has been cast as Eduardo Guaty, “a hard-hitting prosecutor.”

This actress joins already cast Malin Akerman and Mykelti Williamson.

Prism’s plot synopsis: “Prism is described as a provocative exploration of a murder trial in which every episode is told through the perspective of a different key person involved. Each new version of the facts ratchets up the mystery and the suspense, calling into question everything we have seen so far and asking, Is the right person on trial? Driven by an ensemble of complicated characters, the show lets the audience ask if truth matters less than who can tell the most compelling story.”

Daniel Barnz will write and direct the series.

Utopia (Amazon)

Rainn Wilson has been cast as Michael Stearns, a promising virologist, Michael is now a forgotten scientist who’s lost his edge –under-appreciated and underfunded in his laboratory work. When a nationwide outbreak of a deadly flu arises, Michael offers his expertise, and soon finds he has landed smack in the middle of something much bigger.”

This actor joins already cast Sasha Lane.

Utopia‘s plot synopsis: “[Utopia] focuses on a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organization after they come into possession of a near-mythical cult underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and forced into the dangerous, unique, and ironic position of saving the world.”

Gillian Flynn wrote the screenplays for the series.

Batwoman (The CW)

Dougray Scott has been cast as Jacob Kane, Kate Kane’s father, Jacob Kane. “He was a former high-ranking soldier in the military who now runs a private security firm in Gotham named The Crows…He has made it his mission to protect his city better than the Dark Knight ever could…But it’s only a matter of time before his unwavering disdain for vigilantes puts him at odds with Gotham’s new caped crusader…who also happens to be his own daughter (played by Ruby Rose).”

Elizabeth Anweis has been cast as Catherine Hamilton-Kane, Kate Kane’s step-mother. “Catherine made her fortune as a savvy, bullheaded defense contractor, and all those billions position her as one of Gotham’s most powerful residents. For Catherine, it’s a matter of the bottom line: Batwoman is bad for business.”

Marcos Siega has been selected to direct the film.

These actresses and actor join already cast Ruby Rose., Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson, Nicole Kang,

Batwoman‘s plot synopsis: “It centers on Kate Kane (Rose) who soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”

Caroline Dries wrote the screenplay for the pilot episode.

Orange in the New Black (Netflix)

Alicia Witt has been cast Zelda, a low-key New York socialite and professional fundraiser.

This actress joins already cast: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Jackie Cruz, Laura Gomez, Kate Mulgrew, Selenis Leyva, Taryn Manning, Adrienne C. Moore, Jessica Pimentel, Dascha Polanco, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Yael Stone, Laverne Cox, and Dale Soules.

Evil (CBS)

Mike Colter has been cast as David Dacosta, a Catholic priest-in-training, who is “tasked by the Church to assess unexplained phenomena to see if there is a supernatural or scientific explanation.”

Katja Herbers has been cast as Kristen Benoist, “a skeptical female clinical psychologist.”

Evil‘s plot synopsis: “Evil is a series about the battle between science and religion. It focuses on Kristen Benoist (Herbers), a skeptical female clinical psychologist who joins David Dacosta (Colter), a Catholic priest-in-training, and a blue-collar contractor as they investigate supposed miracles, demonic possessions, and other extraordinary occurrences to see if there’s a scientific explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work.

Locke & Key (Netflix)

Michael Morris has been selected to direct the first two episodes of the TV series.

The cast includes: Darby Stanchfield, Jackson Robert Scott, Emilia Jones, and Connor Jessup.

Locke & Key‘s plot synopsis: based on the comic book by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez, “Locke & Key is a horror/fantasy series that revolves around three siblings who, after the gruesome murder of their father, move to their ancestral home in Massachusetts only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. Little do they know, a devious demon also wants the keys, and will stop at nothing to attain them.”

Carlton Cuse, Joe Hill, and Aron Eli Coleite wrote the screenplay for the pilot episode of this TV series.

Under the Bridge (CBS)

Vic Mahoney has been selected to direct the TV series.

David Ajala stars in the series.

Under the Bridge‘s plot synopsis: “when a scandal rocks the medical practice she runs with her husband and their friends, a surgeon rises to the occasion and takes the lead in trying to mend both the practice and her own marriage.”

Rina Mimoun wrote the screenplays for the series.

Prodigal Son (Fox)

Lou Diamond Phillips has been cast as Gil, “a recent widower who is a little old school. He’s a tough, experienced NYPD detective who brings Bright onto his team to help find a copycat killer. Gil is confident about Bright’s abilities, and they have a pseudo father-son relationship.”

Aurora Perrineau has been cast as Dani. “Headstrong, courageous and experienced, Dani is a Bronx-born NYPD detective and former addict who works with JT and Gil. Although Dani initially is suspicious of Bright’s presence on their team, she grows impressed with his work and develops a soft spot for him.”

Frank Harts has been cast as JT, “an NYPD detective who works with Gil and Dani. He is baffled by Bright’s eccentricities as a forensic profiler, and he wonders if Bright is a psychopath himself. Growing up, his friends were more like future criminals than future cops.”

Prodigal Son‘s plot synopsis: “Prodigal Son is described as a fresh take on a crime franchise with a provocative and outrageous lead character and darkly comedic tone. It centers on Malcolm Bright, who has a gift: He knows how killers think, how their minds work. Why? His father was one of the worst — a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon.” That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He will use his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son, and his own constantly evolving neuroses.”

Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver wrote the screenplay for the Lee Toland Krieger-directed pilot episode.

Glamorous (The CW)

Brooke Shields has been cast as Madolyn, “a former supermodel who is no stranger to the covers of Vogue or the runways of Milan and is the founder and CEO of one of the industry’s most respected and sophisticated cosmetics companies. A canny businesswoman and entrepreneur, Madolyn is at the top of the game and will stop at nothing to stay there, including making a strategic hire to be her eyes and ears within the company.”

Glamorous‘ plot synopsis: “Glamorous centers on a gender-nonconforming recent high school graduate who lands the gig of a lifetime interning at a cosmetics company whose products he panned on YouTube.”

Jordon Nardino wrote the screenplay for the Eva Longoria-directed pilot episode.

Spinning Out (Netflix)

Svetlana Efremova has been cast as Dasha Glushenko, “the sharp-tongued Russian skating coach who rules over Justin and Kat with an iron fist. She believes in Justin’s talent and will do anything to see him succeed. At first, she sees Kat as more of a business opportunity, but as the relationship progresses, she transforms into a kind of protective grandmother figure.”

Charlie Hewson has been cast as Dr. Parker, “the super-charming and polished doctor that many of his young skating patients have a crush on.”

This actor joins already cast: Johnny Weir, Kaya Scodelairo, Emma Roberts, Evan Roderick, Sarah Wright Olsen, Will Kemp, Kaitlyn Leeb, Amanda Zhou, and Mitchell Edwards.

Spinning Out‘s plot synopsis: “It will follow the story of Kat Baker (Scodelario), an up-and-coming, high-level single skater who’s about to turn in her skates after a disastrous fall took her off the competition track. When Kat seizes an opportunity to continue her career as a pair skater with a talented bad-boy partner, she risks exposing a fiercely kept secret that could unravel her entire life. On and off the ice, Kat and her new partner will face daunting odds, injury to body and soul, financial sacrifice, and even potential mental breakdown on their way to realizing their Olympic dream.”

Cipher (Syfy)

Adrian Grenier has been cast as John, the father of boy with a brain implant.

Sydney Morton has been cast as Bridgette, “an NSA operative who knows more about the source of the tech inside Asa than she lets on.”

This actor joins already cast Gabriel Bateman.

Cipher‘s plot synopsis: “following the recent death of his mother, 13-year-old video game junkie Asa’s (Gabriel Bateman) life changes yet again when his brain is implanted with one-of-a-kind computer technology, and the boy and his father John (Grenier) unwittingly find themselves at the center of the next great war – over artificial intelligence.

John returns to his hometown of Austin to raise his only child, Asa. When he learns that Asa’s life is in danger, John is forced to step up and protect his son.”

Allison Miller wrote the screenplays for the series.

The Witcher (Netflix)

Katia Bokor has been cast as Queen Sancia, “the mother of Foltest.”

This actress joins already cast Henry Cavill.

Alik Sakharov, Alex Garcia Lopez, and Charlotte Brändström will each be directing episodes in the first season.

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