TV Casting: THE 100, 9-1-1: LONE STAR, Erica Durance & Tom Welling in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, & More

TV Show Casting for The 100, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and More

The 100, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and other TV productions have made recent TV show casting, TV movie casting, and TV directing news. These shows and movies air on: Netflix, BBC, Apple TV+, HBO Max, FX, Starz, and The CW. Beware of spoilers in these casting announcements.

FX

Old Man

John Lithgow has been cast as Harold Harper, “intelligent and tough with deep reservoirs of compassion and ruthlessness, Harper is called back to service by the FBI after suffering a terrible personal loss. He has a complicated past with rogue fugitive Chase, which makes him uniquely suited for hunting him down.”

Amy Brenneman has been cast as Zoe, a recent divorcee who “rents a room to Dan Chase (Bridges) not knowing he’s on the run. But when the truth is revealed… she’ll draw on reserves she never knew she had in order to survive the day.”

Old Man‘s plot synopsis: based on the novel by Thomas Perry, “Old Man follows Dan Chase (Bridges), a retired CIA officer who absconded from the CIA decades ago and has been living off the grid since. When an assassin arrives and tries to take Chase out, the old operative learns that to ensure his future he now must reconcile his past.”

This actor and actress join already cast Jeff Bridges.

Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine wrote the screenplays for the TV series.

Jon Watts is directing the pilot episode.

HBO MAX

Tokyo Vice

Ken Watanabe has been cast as Hiroto Katagiri, “an organized crime detective in the Tokyo Police Department who acts as a father figure to Elgort’s Jake and helps guide him along the thin line between the cops and the world of organized crime.”

This actor joins already cast Ansel Elgort.

Tokyo Police‘s plot synopsis: based on the novel by Jake Adelstein, “Elgort will play an on-screen version of the author, an American journalist who embeds himself into the Tokyo Vice police squad to reveal corruption, chronicling his daily descent into the neon-soaked underbelly of Tokyo, where nothing is what it seems.”

J.T. Roger will write the screenplays for the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed TV series.

Americanah

HBO Max, a division of WarnerMedia Entertainment, today announced a straight-to-series order for Americanah. Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name, Americanah is an epic story of a woman born in Nigeria who leaves for America and her extraordinary experiences with love, heartache, adversity and self-discovery. The 10-episode limited series will star Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave; Black Panther), with the pilot being written by showrunner Danai Gurira (Black Panther; Avengers: Endgame), who was nominated for a Tony Award® for writing the Broadway show Eclipsed.

“Americanah has sparked a cultural phenomenon and is revered by fans around the world. It has affected me deeply as one of the most moving, socially relevant and romantic stories of our time,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max. “With exceptional talent like Lupita and Danai in front of and behind the camera, this series will give viewers a uniquely heartfelt and unforgettable experience.”

“Through Americanah, Chimamanda brought the African female voice into mainstream consciousness in an unprecedented way. It is intellectually incisive, indicting, yet full of humor, and riddled with humanity. She makes unheard voices familiar, universal and yet palpably specific,” said Gurira. “I am honored to bring her incredible novel to life on the screen. I’m thrilled to collaborate once again with Lupita who brings her astounding ability as a performer and producer shepherding this project, along with HBO MAX’s unbridled enthusiasm to bring this groundbreaking narrative to the TV audience.”

“Americanah has been a passion project for me since I read Chimamanda’s beautiful novel in 2013. It’s a tale that is simultaneously timely and timeless,” said Nyong’o. “HBO Max is the perfect partner to bring this profound and celebrated story to life, and I’m thrilled that Danai will bring to the project her intelligence, wit, and understanding of the stories and the worlds of Americanah.”

Americanah tells the story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze. Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London. A highly lauded tale that has become a leader in the cultural conversation, Americanah is an incredible exploration of the human experience that crosses three continents to give an empathetic, compelling view of the complex realities of race, politics, immigration and identity.

The series will be executive produced by Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o for Eba Productions, Plan B Entertainment, Andrea Calderwood (Generation Kill) for Potboiler Television, Didi Rea and Danielle Del for D2 Productions, and Nancy Won (Jessica Jones).

Comedy Central

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens

Ming-Na Wen has been cast as Sandra, “described as Nora’s bohemian, earthy and spiritual aunt who comes for a visit.”

This actress joins already cast Awkwafina, Bowen Yang, BD Wong, and Lori Tan Chinn.

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens‘ plot synopsis: “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens will follow the story of a young woman named Nora Lum, who is growing up in Flushing. Raised by her Dad and Grandma (Lori Tan Chinn) alongside her cousin, Nora leans on her family as she navigates life and young adulthood in outer borough-NYC.”

Awkwafina, Karey Dornetto, and Teresa Hsiao wrote the screenplays for the TV series.

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens will begin airing in January 2020.

The CW

The 100

Alaina Huffman has been cast as Nikki, “One of the newly-awakened Eligius IV convicts, Nikki is a bank robber and spree-killer who is both unpredictable and fierce. She will take on an unexpected leadership role, advocating for her people in the complicated new world of Sanctum.”

This actress joins already cast Shelby Flannery.

Supergirl

Cara Buono has been cast as Gamemnae, “an ancient alien, who with others of her kind, have been safeguarding the Earth from the follies of humanity throughout the ages. Gamemnae’s aim is to use technology to subjegate humans. Gamemnae is cunning, witty, ruthless, and always ten steps ahead of her adversaries. Gamemnae’s agenda puts her into conflict with her would-be allies and on a collision course with Supergirl.”

Mitch Pileggi has been cast as Rama Khan, “an ancient alien who is able to control the four ancient elements — fire, water, earth, and air. Arrogant and willful, Rama Khan has been entrusted to use his powers to protect the Earth from mankind for millions of years but now his agenda puts him at odds with Supergirl as well as Lena Luthor.”

Arrow

Willa Holland will be reprising the role of Thea Queen / Speed, the sister of Oliver Queen, introduced in the first season of Arrow.

Crisis on Infinite Earths – Arrowverse Annual Crossover (Arrow, Batwoman, Black Lightning, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow)

Tom Welling will be reprising the role of Clark Kent / Superman from Smallville.

Erica Durance will be reprising the role of Lois Lane from Smallville.

This actor and actress join already cast John Wesley Shipp.

Starz

American Gods

Marilyn Manson has been cast as Johan Wengren, the blood-thirsty “lead singer of the Viking death metal band Blood Death — well within the shock rocker’s wheelhouse. Wengren and Blood Death are also a source of power for the Ian McShane-portrayed Mr. Wednesday in his war with the New Gods.”

Netflix

Fate: The Winx Club Saga

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#CAOS star Abigail Cowen has joined the cast of Fate: The Winx Saga — adapted from the popular Italian franchise. #TVD alum Brian Young will showrun the YA-series set at a magical boarding school where five friends try to navigate their powers, romance, and deadly monsters pic.twitter.com/9axuPoIdZK

— Queue (@netflixqueue) September 17, 2019

Apple TV+

Mosquito Coast

Justin Theroux has been cast as Allie Fox, an idealist who uproots his family to Latin America.

Neil Cross wrote the screenplays, based on the book by Paul Theroux, for Rupert Wyatt-directed TV series.

Shantaram

Charlie Hunnam has been cast as Lin, “a man on the run from an Australian prison looking to get lost in the teeming city of Bombay. Cut off from family and friends by distance and fate, he finds a new life in the slums, bars and underworld of India.”

BBC and FX

Black Narcissus

From Bafta award-winning writer Amanda Coe (The Trial Of Christine Keeler, Apple Tree Yard), DNA TV and director Charlotte Bruus Christensen comes a new three-part adaptation of the 1939 classic literary novel Black Narcissus, Rumer Godden’s iconic tale of sexual repression and forbidden love.

Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man, The Escape) leads the all-star cast in the role of Sister Clodagh. Joining Arterton is Alessandro Nivola (American Hustle, Chimerica) as Mr Dean, Aisling Franciosi (The Nightingale, I Know This Much Is True) as Sister Ruth, Diana Rigg (Game Of Thrones, Victoria) as Mother Dorothea, Jim Broadbent (Paddington, Paddington 2, The Iron Lady) as Father Roberts, Gina McKee (Catherine The Great, Bodyguard) as Sister Adela, Rosie Cavaliero (Prey, Unforgotten) as Sister Briony, Patsy Ferran (Tom And Jerry, Jamestown) as Sister Blanche, Karen Bryson (MotherFatherSon, Safe) as Sister Philippa and Dipika Kunwar as Kanchi who makes her television debut.

Charlotte Bruus Christensen makes her directorial debut having previously been Director of Photography on hit films such as Girl On A Train, A Quiet Place, Fences as well as DNA and BBC Films’ Far From The Madding Crowd.

Returning this haunting love story to its original setting in the 1930s, Black Narcissus follows Sister Clodagh (Arterton) and the nuns of St Faiths, who travel to Nepal to set up a branch of their order in the remote palace of Mopu.

In the unfettered sensuality of the so-called House of Women, Sister Clodagh finds herself increasingly attracted to the handsome and damaged land agent, Mr Dean (Nivola). But as the repressed memories of Clodagh’s past become entangled with the tragic history of Princess Srimati, history seems doomed to repeat itself.

Are there really ghosts here in the Himalayas, or are the nuns just succumbing to long-repressed primal desires? And which of them is prepared to die – or kill – for love?

Announcing the project, writer Amanda Coe says: “I’m thrilled to be adapting Black Narcissus for BBC One. It’s a truly extraordinary love story, as well as a brilliantly unsettling piece of 20th century gothic about the power of a place to get under your skin and the dangers of refusing to learn from history.”

Black Narcissus is a 3×60’ drama adaptation for BBC One produced by DNA TV and FX Productions. Executive Producers are Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich and Amanda Coe for DNA TV and FX Productions and Lucy Richer for the BBC. Filming starts in October in Jomsom, Nepal and Pinewood Studios, UK.

Black Narcissus was previously adapted for screen in 1947 by Powell and Pressburger and subsequently won two Oscars for Cinematography (Jack Cardiff) and Art Direction (Alfred Junge).

Tiny Pretty Things

Anna Maiche has been cast as Cassie Shore, the narrator of the TV series and The Archer School of Ballet’s star student, and a dancer with a bright future who’s the envy (and also nemesis) of every other young woman at the Academy. Everything changes when a shattering event befalls her — an event that could change the fate of every student and faculty member.”

This actress joins already cast: Lauren Holly, Kylie Jefferson, Casimere Jollette, Daniela Norman, Brennan Clost, Michael Hsu Rosen, Damon J. Gillespie, Bayardo De Murguia, Barton Cowperthwaite, Tory Trowbridge, and Jess Salgueiro

Tiny Pretty Things‘ plot synopsis: based on the book by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton, “Tiny Pretty Things is set in the world of an elite ballet academy and charts the rise and fall of young adults who live far from their homes, each standing on the verge of greatness or ruin. As Chicago’s only elite dance school, the Archer School of Ballet serves as the company school for the city’s renowned professional company: City Works Ballet. The Archer School is an oasis for an array of dancers: rich and poor, from north and south, and a range of backgrounds. Yet they all share a rare talent and passion for dance, a loyal sense of community… and when it comes to their dreams, no Plan B.”

Michael MacLennan has written the screenplays for the film.

Gary Fleder is directing the pilot episode for the series.

Fox

9-1-1: Lone Star

Ronen Rubinstein has been cast as TK Strand, “the firefighter son of Capt. Owen Strand (Lowe), who follows his father to Austin, TX.”

Sierra McClain has been cast as Grace Ryder, “an Austin-based 9-1-1 call center operator and wife of firefighter Judd Ryder (Parrack).”

9-1-1: Lone Star will premiere on January 19, 2020, following the NFC Championship Game, before settling into a Monday night 9 pm time slot.

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