This Week in TV:
American Horror Story veteran Sarah Paulson is confirmed to return for the anthology series' fifth season; Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds) joins the cast of AMC's Preacher; Heroes Reborn adds Rya Kihlstedt (Dexter) to its cast; Baz Luhrmann's Netflix series The Get Down casts newcomer Herizen Guardiola as its female lead; Disney XD announces it will air seasons 2-4 of Doctor Who (David Tennant's tenure as The Doctor); and Revolution producers reunite for a digital comic book series to provide fans with a final resolution to the show's story.
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Sarah Paulson officially joined the cast of American Horror Story: Hotel in an unknown role.
Though her new character has not yet been revealed, series creator Ryan Murphy did tease Paulson would be playing a rather nasty villain in the anthology series' upcoming fifth season.
Sarah Paulson is checking into "Hotel." And this season, she's the baddest bad girl of them all. #AHSSeason5— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) April 13, 2015
Paulson, who has appeared in every season of American Horror Story, has previously played characters including a lesbian journalist (Asylum) and conjoined twins (Freak Show). Murphy has obviously appreciated her versatility, as he also cast her as a lead in his other series at FX, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.
In the upcoming season of AHS, Paulson joins a cast including Matt Bomer (White Collar), Wes Bentley (American Beauty), Chloe Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry), Lady Gaga (Machete Kills) and series veteran Kathy Bates. Hotel marks the first season not to feature Jessica Lange, who has nabbed two Emmy awards for her work on the series.
American Horror Story: Hotel is scheduled to begin filming this summer, to make an October 2015 premiere.
Source: Ryan Murphy
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After securing its lead earlier in the week, AMC's Preacher added Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds) to its cast.
In the Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg adaptation of the cult 1990s comic book, Perkins will play Vyla Quinncannon, a character described as "a genteel but formidable businesswoman who owns the local slaughterhouse in Annville." The character also shares a past with the father of the show's lead character, Jesse Custer, whom Vyla has a hold over.
Best known for her role in the 1980s comedy Big and for her role as Celia Hodes on Weeds, Perkins joins Dominic Cooper (Marvel's Agent Carter) as Jesse, the titular Texan preacher who embarks on a journey to literally find God after he merges with a supernatural force, giving him the power to command the obedience of those around him. The cast also includes Ruth Negga (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Jesse's ex-girlfriend Tulip, Joseph Gilgun (Lockout) as the Irish vampire Cassidy, Lucy Griffiths as Emily and Ian Colletti (Rake) as the horribly disfigured Arseface.
The hotly-anticipated project is still in the pilot stage, but we'll pass along the latest on Preacher as it comes in.
Source: Deadline
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Rya Kihlstedt (Dexter) joined the cast of NBC's Heroes sequel series, Heroes Reborn.
Unfortunately, details on Kihlstedt's character have not been revealed, but we do know she will be playing a new character previously unseen in the original Heroes series. We also know that she will be a series regular, and should be appearing in most of the event series' 13 episodes.
In the miniseries that will feature an all-new story, Kihlstedt joins returning Heroes stars Masi Oka, Jimmy Jean-Louis and Jack Coleman, as well as fellow series newcomers Zachary Levi (Chuck), Robbie Kay (Once Upon a Time), Ryan Guzman (Step Up: All In), Judith Shekoni (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II) and Danika Yarosh (Shameless).
Look for Heroes Reborn on NBC later this year.
Source: EW
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Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann's Netflix drama The Get Down found its lead in singer-songwriter Herizen Guardiola.
Guardiola will make her acting debut in the Luhrmann-created series that follows a group of teens coming of age in 1970s New York. She will play Mylene Cruz, a "shining, tenacious girl with a voice from God who dreams of disco stardom from the confines of her family’s fiercely religious church walls."
Guardiola joins a cast of unknowns including Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks and Tremaine Brown Jr. Luhrmann will direct the first two episodes and the season 1 finale while also serving as an executive producer on all 13 season 1 episodes.
With little star power to fall back on, Luhrmann and Netflix will hope the power of the show's story, its period setting and its music - which will include a blend of disco, punk rock and early hip-hop - are enough to draw audiences into The Get Down's world. We are certainly intrigued to see what the final product looks like.
The Get Down season 1 is expected to become available on Netflix in 2016.
Source: Variety
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Disney XD has acquired the broadcast rights to seasons 2-4 of Doctor Who - the three seasons that starred David Tennant as the series' 10th Doctor.
The network was more than thrilled to nab rights to the particular stretch of the series, as Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor has been one of the most popular and well-received among fans since the iconic sci-fi series was re-launched on the BBC in 2005. Likewise, the BBC was excited at the opportunity to increase North American viewers' exposure to the show.
Said BBC Worldwide North America EVP Matt Forde:
“Disney XD is recognized for its family-friendly programming, making the channel a great partner to introduce the David Tennant seasons of 'Doctor Who' to a new generation of viewers.”
Disney XD will begin airing Doctor Who seasons 2-4 on May 9, 2015 with the first episode of season 2, and then continue airing episodes June 13-20. The episodes will also be available to stream via the Watch Disney XD app beginning June 14.
Source: Deadline
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Responding to a passionate call for a Revolution revival from fans, the show's creative team came together for a four-part digital comic that will provide a resolution to the canceled series' storyline.
After getting axed by NBC last year after just two seasons on the air, Revolution left loyal fans with an open-ended and ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. The resulting outcry then prompted series creator Eric Kripke to gather producers J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Rockne S. O’Bannon and Jon Favreau to create a digital comic that would pick up after the events of the show's season 2 finale.
The team, assisted by much of the original series' writing staff, helped break the story for the four digital chapters, which were then penned by Revolution writers David Reed and Ryan Parrott and illustrated by DC Comics artist Angel Hernandez. Each chapter will have a specially designed cover.
In a letter addressed to the fans, Kripke said:
"And solely because of your efforts, we wanted to pay you back—to give you something fantastic. And while, unfortunately, we simply can’t make more episodes of the show (alas, there are financial realities we can’t overcome), we can do the next best thing. Which is end the story. On our terms. Exactly the way we would have."
The four-part Revolution digital comic series from DC Comics is set to begin rolling out on May 4, 2015 on ComicBook.com, with new issues to follow every two weeks.
Source: ComicBook.com