TV Casting: WESTWORLD, SLEEPING BEAUTIES, John Cusack in UTOPIA, & More

TV Show Casting for Westworld, Sleeping Beauties, Utopia, and More

Westworld, Sleeping Beauties, Utopia, and other TV productions have made recent TV show casting, TV movie casting, and TV directing news. These shows and movies air on: ABC, The CW, Netflix, Fox, NBC, DC Universe, Showtime, HBO, Hulu, TNT, YouTube Premium, CBS, CBS All Access, Apple TV+, Epix, Hulu, Paramount Network, and Amazon Prime. Beware of spoilers in these casting announcements.

Amazon Prime

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Sterling K. Brown has been cast in an unspecified role for a three episode arc.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel‘s plot synopsis: “Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel, a 1958 New York City woman who has everything she’s ever wanted — the perfect husband, two kids, and an elegant Upper West Side apartment perfect for hosting Yom Kippur dinner. But her perfect life suddenly takes an unexpected turn and Midge discovers a previously unknown talent — one that changes her life forever.”

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino write and direct this TV series.

The Underground Railroad

Thuso Mbedu has been cast as Cora, “a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia who is an outcast even amongst her fellow Africans.”

Aaron Pierre has been cast as Caesar, a recent slave arrival to the cotton plantation whom informs Cora of the existence of The Underground Railroad.

Chase W. Dillon has been cast as Homer.

The Underground Railroad‘s plot synopsis: based on the book by Colson Whitehead, “The Underground Railroad follows Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia who is an outcast even amongst her fellow Africans and is struggling coming into womanhood when she meets Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia who informs her of The Underground Railroad, inspiring them both to take the risk and escape to freedom.”

Barry Jenkins will direct all eleven episodes of the limited TV series.

Amazon Studios has not set a release date yet for The Underground Railroad.

Utopia

John Cusack has been cast as Dr. Kevin Christie. This characters is charismatic “and media-savvy, with a brilliant biotech mind and a philanthropic outlook. Christie altruistically wants to change the world through science.”

These actors join already cast: Javon “Wanna” Walton, Dan Byrd, Cory Michael Smith, 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 Hunt

Kate Mulvany has been cast as Sister Harriet, “one of the members of The Hunt.”

James Le Gros has been cast as Detective Grimsby, a veteran FBI agent and “Millie’s boss at the New York bureau.”

Ebony Obsidian has been cast as Carol Hawthorne, “Jonah’s neighbor and romantic interest.”

Caleb Emery has been cast as Arthur “Bootyhole” McGuigan, “Jonah’s best friend.”

Henry Hunter Hall has been cast as Sherman “Cheeks” Johnson, “Jonah’s other best friend.”

Jeannie Berlin has been cast as Jonah’s grandmother.

These actors and actresses join already cast Logan Lerman, Al Pacino.,Catherine Tate, Tiffany Boone, Saul Rubinek, Lena Olin, Carol Kane, Carol Kane, Saul Rubinek, Greg Austin, Jerrika Hinton, and Dylan Baker.

The Hunt‘s plot synopsis: “The Hunt will tell the story of a group known as the Hunters living in New York City in 1977. The Hunters discover that hundreds of former high-ranking Nazi officials are living among them and conspiring to create the Fourth Reich in the U.S. The group then sets out on a bloody quest to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their new genocidal plans. The story is inspired by real-life events.”

AMC

Sleeping Beauties

Owen King has been hired to write the pilot screenplay for the TV adaptation of Sleeping Beauties.

Sleeping Beauties‘ plot synopsis: based on the book by Owen King and Stephen King, “tells a timely metaphorical story about women and the gender role by imagining what would happen if men were left alone. It takes place in the near future in a small Appalachian town whose primary employer is a women’s prison. Something happens when women go to sleep; they become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. If they are awakened, if the gauze wrapping their bodies is disturbed or violated, the women become feral and spectacularly violent. And while they sleep they go to another place. Meanwhile, the men are abandoned, left to their increasingly primal devices. One woman, the mysterious Evie, is immune to the blessing or curse of the sleeping disease. Is Evie a medical anomaly to be studied? Or is she a demon who must be slain?”

NBCU

Brave New World

Alden Ehrenreich has been cast as John the Savage, a subversive outsider to the New London that threatens the city’s social order.

Brave New World‘s plot synopsis: based on the book by Aldous Huxley, “Brave New World imagines a utopian society that has achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history itself. As citizens of New London, Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne have only ever known a rigid social order, a perfect pharmaceutical called Soma, and a culture of instant gratification and ubiquitous sex. Curious to explore life beyond the strictures of their society, the two New Worlders embark on a vacation to the Savage Lands, where they become embroiled in a harrowing and violent rebellion. Bernard and Lenina are rescued by John the Savage (Ehrenreich), who escapes with them back to New London. The arrival of John, a subversive outsider, in the New World, threatens to disrupt the stability of New London’s utopian society.”

David Wiener, Grant Morrison, and Brian Taylor wrote the screenplays for the TV series.

Netflix

Insatiable

Alex Landi has been cast in an unspecified role.

This actor joins from season one of the series: Debby Ryan, Dallas Roberts, Alyssa Milano, Christopher Gorman, and Erinn Westbrook.

Insatiable‘s plot synopsis: “For years, Patty (Debby Ryan) has been bullied, ignored, and underestimated by those around her because of her weight. But now that she finds herself suddenly thin, Patty is out for payback against anyone who has ever made her feel bad about herself.

Bob Armstrong (Dallas Roberts), a disgraced attorney whose true passion is coaching beauty pageant contestant, is the only one who sees Patty’s potential, and takes her under his wing — first as a legal client, and then as a pageant contestant whom he coaches toward becoming the top pageant queen in the country. But Bob and his wife Coralee (Alyssa Milano) have no idea how deep Patty’s rage goes, or how far she will go to exact revenge on anyone who has ever wronged her. Bullies beware: payback’s a bitch, revenge is sweet, and if you cross Patty, you’ll be her next treat.”

Lauren Gussis writes the screenplays for this TV series.

USA Network

Psych: The Movie 2

Joel McHale has been cast in an unspecified yet “mysterious character from Lassie’s past.”

Jimmi Simpson will reprise his role as Mary Lightly.

These actors join already cast: James Roday, Dulé Hill, Kristen Nelson, Maggie Lawson, and Corbin Bernsen.

Psych: The Movie 2‘s plot synopsis: “The film will follow the original duo alongside Kristen Nelson’s Chief Karen Vick, Maggie Lawson (Lethal Weapon)’s Juliet O’Hara and Corbin Bernsen (The Punisher)’s Henry Spencer as they travel back to hometown Santa Barbara to help find the criminal who shot and almost killed Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter (Timothy Omundson, Supernatural).

But despite their successful history in the town, Shawn and Gus find themselves unwelcome in trying to solve the case with the local police and without the help of their loved ones or their favorite bakeries and could possibly discover things that affect their relationship.”

Steve Franks and James Roday co-wrote the screenplay for this film. Steve Franks will direct the film.

HBO

Westworld

Lena Waithe has been cast in an unspecified role in Season 3.

Lake Success

Jake Gyllenhaal has been cast as Barry Cohen, a self-deluded narcissist and hedge fund manager “who flees his family, his past and the SEC on a cross-country bus ride in search of his college girlfriend and a last chance at romantic redemption.”

Lake Success‘ plot synopsis: based on the novel by Gary Shteyngart, “Lake Success centers on narcissistic, self-deluded and hilariously divorced from the real world, hedge fund manager Barry Cohen (Gyllenhaal) who flees his family, his past and the SEC on a cross-country bus ride in search of his college girlfriend and a last chance at romantic redemption. Meanwhile, back in Manhattan, his brilliant wife Seema struggles to raise their autistic son and begins a tragicomic love affair of her own.”

Gary Stheyngart and Tom Spezialy are writing the screenplays for the TV mini-series.

Perry Mason

Tatiana Maslany has been cast as Sister Alice, “the leader of the Radiant Assembly of God, preaching three sermons a day (21 a week!) to a hungry congregation and a radio audience that spans the country. Entertainer, politician, God’s conduit to the City of Angels, Sister Alice wields great power when she speaks, and plans to use it in ways only she can know.”

This actress joins already cast Matthew Rhys.

Perry Mason‘s plot synopsis: “the reimagined Perry Mason is set in 1932 Los Angeles. While the rest of the country recovers from the Great Depression, this city is booming! Oil! Olympic Games! Talking Pictures! Evangelical Fervor! And a child kidnapping gone very, very wrong!” Based on characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner, this limited series follows the origins of American Fiction’s most legendary criminal defense lawyer, Perry Mason (Rhys). When the case of the decade breaks down his door, Mason’s relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured city and just maybe, a pathway to redemption for himself.”

 Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald are writing the screenplays for the TV mini-series.

Disney+

Rogue One TV Series

Alan Tudyk will be reprising his role as the former Imperial enforcer droid K-2SO, “who was reprogrammed to help the Rebel Alliance.”

This actor joins already cast Diego Luna.

Rogue One TV series’ plot synopsis: it “will follow the adventures of rebel spy Cassian Andor during the formative years of the Rebellion and prior to the events of Rogue One. The spy thriller series will explore tales of espionage and daring missions to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire.”

DC Universe

Titans

Iain Glen has been cast as Bruce Wayne / Batman. This incarnation of Batman is described as a hero, whom after “decades of fighting crime…is just as driven to protect Gotham from evil as he was in his prime. Needing to reconcile his relationship with Dick Grayson, the duo hope to forge a new dynamic as Bruce tries to help his former sidekick and the Titans achieve success.”

This actor joins already cast: Chella Man, Esai Morales, Joshua Orpin, Brenton Thwaites, Teagan Croft, Anna Diop, Alan Ritchson, and Minka Kelly.

Showtime

Shameless

Noel Fisher will be reprise his role as Mickey Milkovich.

These actress join already cast: Katey Sagal, Courteney Cox, William H. Macy, Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkosky, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Emma Kenney, Cameron Monaghan, Richard Flood, and Christian Isaiah.

Shameless: Season 9’s plot synopsis: “In season nine of SHAMELESS, political fervor hits the South Side, and the Gallaghers take justice into their own hands. Frank (Macy) sees financial opportunity in campaigning and decides to give voice to the underrepresented South Side working man. Fiona (Rossum) tries to build on her success with her apartment building and takes an expensive gamble hoping to catapult herself into the upper echelon. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) distracts himself from the challenges of sobriety by taking in Eddie’s niece, Xan (Amirah Johnson).

Ian (Cameron Monaghan) faces the consequences of his crimes as the Gay Jesus movement takes a destructive turn. Debbie (Emma Kenney) fights for equal pay and combats harassment, and her efforts lead her to an unexpected realization. Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) sets his sights on West Point and prepares himself for cadet life. Liam (Christian Isaiah) must develop a new skillset to survive outside of his cushy private school walls. Kevin (Steve Howey) and V (Shanola Hampton) juggle the demands of raising the twins with running the Alibi as they attempt to transform the bar into a socially conscious business.”

Shameless: Season 9 will begin airing on Showtime in September 9 at 9 p.m.

This just in: Mickey is BACK on #Shameless season 10!!! pic.twitter.com/Tv6DMFLaSX

— Shameless on Showtime (@SHO_Shameless) April 12, 2019

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