This Week in TV:
Mind Hunter casting update; Geena Davis joins The Exorcist; Vice Principals trailer; Training Day update; Ashley Thomas joins 24: Legacy; Houdini & Doyle poster; George Eads joins MacGyver; K. Todd Freeman joins A Series of Unfortunate Events; AMC renews Into the Badlands; and a Twin Peaks casting update.
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Mind Hunter casting Update
Mind Hunter, the upcoming David Fincher Netflix project, has added two new actors to the cast. The first is Jonathan Groff (Looking), who will play FBI Agent Holden Ford in the series. The second is Anna Torv (Fringe), who has landed the role of Wendy, a psychologist assisting the FBI.
The series is based on the 1996 book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, a nonfiction account written by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The book chronicles Douglas' pursuit of some of the most infamous serial killers and rapists of the time. The series is being written by Joe Penhall (The Road), with Fincher set to direct the pilot episode and Charlize Theron on board as executive producer. The project has been in development since 2010 and was originally intended to be an HBO series before moving to Netflix.
Source: THR
Geena Davis joins The Exorcist
Geena Davis (The Fly) has joined the cast of FOX's The Exorcist pilot in a potential recurring role. Davis will play Angela Rance, who is described as "a naturally beautiful, regal, and proud woman who is weighted down by stress. Rance does everything she can to stay positive and keep her faith even though her family is currently struggling. She can't help but wonder, however, if perhaps her nightmares about a demon are a sign of what's wrong." Rance seems to be the analogue character in the adaptation to Ellen Burstyn's Chris MacNeil from William Friedkin's 1973 film adaptation.
The Exorcist TV series is a modern retelling of William Blatty's novel of the same name. The pilot script was written by Jeremy Slater (Fantastic Four) and will be directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes).
Source: TheWrap
First Vice Principals trailer
HBO has released the first trailer for Vice Principals, a new comedy series starring Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down) and Walton Goggins (Justified). The series follows two vice principals who form a rivalry as they compete to become principal of their school. McBride plays Neal Gamby, the tough vice principal in charge of discipline while Goggins plays newcomer Lee Russell, the well-liked administrator in charge of curriculum. As competition for the top spot in administration heats up, the rivalry grows to ludicrous proportions. Check out the official poster below:
The series was created by McBride and and Jody Hill, the creators behind Eastbound & Down. HBO has already ordered 18 episodes of the half-hour comedy series, which will air over the course of two seasons.
Source: HBO
Training Day update
CBS has announced that Barry Schindel will serve as showrunner for their upcoming Training Day pilot, a television followup to the 2001 film. The series is set in the present day, 15 years after the events of the film, and follows a young African-American police officer named Kyle Craig who is appointed to an elite squad in the LAPD. Craig is then partnered with Detective Frank Rourke (Bill Paxton), who is described as a morally ambiguous character.
The pilot episode was written by Will Beall (Gangster Squad) and will be directed by Danny Cannon (Gotham). Original director Antoine Fuqua will serve as an executive producer on the series alongside Beall, Schindel, and Jerry Bruckheimer. Schindel's previous producing credits include Law & Order, Numb3rs, and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
CBS also announced the casting of Defiance actress Julie Benz in a potential recurring role should the pilot be ordered to series. Benz will play Holly McCabe, a Hollywood madam who takes pride in how she treats her girls. She has an understanding with Detective Rourke professionally, while the two pursue a romantic relationship as well.
Ashley Thomas joins 24: Legacy
Ashley Thomas (Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands) has been cast in a lead role opposite Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) in the upcoming pilot for 24: Legacy. The new series centers on military hero Eric Carter (Hawkins) and his return to the U.S. Unfortunately, trouble follows him home and he's forced to ask the CTU for help in saving his life and preventing a massive terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
Thomas will play Isaac Carter, the older brother of series protagonist Eric. The two have a troubled history, with Eric ultimately marrying Isaac's ex-girlfriend Nicole (Anna Diop). How their strained relationship affects the overarching plot remains to be seen. The pilot episode was written by 24 writers Manny Coto and Evan Katz. Stephen Hopkins, the director of the original 24 pilot, will return as director.
Source: Deadline
Houdini & Doyle Poster
Ahead of the event series' May premiere, FOX has released an official poster for Houdini & Doyle. The series follows the adventures of real-life friends Harry Houdini (Michael Weston) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Stephen Mangan) as they join the New Scotland Yard to investigate unsolved, potentially supernatural crimes. The master magician and renowned author work closely with Adelaide Stratton (Rebecca Liddiard), the first female Constable of the London Metropolitan Police Force. Together, they will confront the supernatural forces and determine if they're real or a clever ruse to conceal murder.
The series hails from House creator David Shore, who serves as executive producer on the series. The pilot episode was written by series co-creators David Titcher (The Librarians) and David Hoselton (House).
Houdini & Doyle premieres on May, 2016.
Source: TVLine
George Eads joins MacGyver Pilot
CBS has cast CSI alum George Eads in their upcoming MacGyver pilot. The pilot re-imagines the original show in the modern age. It follows a young MacGyver, who has yet to be cast, as he joins a covert organization and uses his unconventional problem solving skills to resolve conflicts and prevent disaster. Eads has been cast as Lincoln, a conspiracy theorist who works for the government.
Eads previously played the character Nick Stokes for 15 seasons on CBS' long-running crime drama CSI. The MacGyver pilot was written by newcomer Paul Downs Colaizzo. Originally set to be directed by James Wan (Furious 7), scheduling conflicts forced Wan to step down as director, being replaced by David Von Ancken (Salem).
Source: The Wrap
K. Todd Freeman joins A Series of Unfortunate Events
K. Todd Freeman has joined A Series of Unfortunate Events, an upcoming Netflix adaptation of the best-selling novels by Lemony Snicket (the pseudonym of author Daniel Handler). The series follows the orphaned children Violet (Maline Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and Sunny Baudelaire as they try and escape their evil uncle Count Olaf, who seeks to steal their inheritance.
Freeman will play Mr. Poe in the series, a naive banker in charge of the Baudelaire's finances. Though the character has good intentions and a big heart, he consistently misunderstands the danger the children are in and ignores their pleas for help. Production on the series is expected to begin this month.
Source: Deadline
AMC renews Into The Badlands
AMC has announced that the martial arts drama Into the Badlands has been renewed for a second season. The series stars Daniel Wu (Europa Report) as a skilled warrior traveling through a feudal landscape in a future without guns. The six-episode season had the distinction of being the third-highest rated first season in U.S. cable history, averaging 5.6 million viewers per episode in Live+7 ratings. Charles Collier, president of AMC, had the following to say:
"With its deep dive into authentic martial arts, the visually stunning 'Into the Badlands' proved to be unlike anything else on television. Co-creators and showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, along with a talented team of producers, cast, and crew brought us an artfully crafted series."
The second season will consist of ten hour-long episodes, which promise to expand the show's existing universe and further evolve the characters that populate the unique world.
Into the Badlands season 2 premieres sometime in 2017.
Source: AMC
Twin Peaks casting update
New rumors have come to light about the cast of Showtime's upcoming Twin Peaks revival. Though the reports have not been officially verified, Patrick Fischler (Hail, Caesar!) and David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man) are expected to appear in the 2017 series. There's currently no information about their potential roles. Casting news has largely been kept under wraps for the series, but numerous characters from the first two seasons are expected to return. Production on the revival is well underway, and we'll bring you more information as it becomes available.
Twin Peaks returns to Showtime in 2017.
Source: Deadline