Today in the TV version of casting news, we see old shows like Community and True Blood getting some new character, while the upcoming pilots scramble together a whole new cast.
Big projects like the CW's Beauty and the Beast pilot, Sanjay Gupta and David E. Kelley's medical drama, and Ellen DiGeneres and Portia de Rossi's comedy, all made some big casting choices today. And one Eureka star has a plan for after that show ends. Keep reading for all the news. There's lots today.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Jacob Hopkins has landed the part of the final member of True Blood’s Vampire Authority. In his recurring role he will play Alexander Drew an Authority chancellor who appears to be only 9-years-old. The young actor joins stars like Peter Mensah, Carolyn Hennesy, and Cristopher Meloni as characters of the Authority. Hopkins recently had a part in Priest which also starred Vampire Bill, Stephen Moyer.
While Community continues to not be on the air, there is some good news for guest casting. Vulture reports that Giancarlo Esposito from Breaking Bad fame will be coming to Greendale. In an upcoming episode, Esposito will play a business associate of Pierce's late father. While the characters reason for returning is being kept secret, it's probably safe to assume that he won't be playing a particularly nice character.
For one of the upcoming Beauty and the Beast shows, Kristin Kreuk from Smallville will be starring. According to THR, the CW has chosen the actress best known for playing Lana Lang to play the lead role of Belle. Loosely based on the 1980s CBS series, the story is said to be "a modern-day romantic love story with a procedural twist. It centers on Catherine (Kreuk), a tough-minded NYPD homicide detective and the Beast, Vincent Koslow, the survivor of a military experiment that went disastrously wrong. Austin Basis (Life Unexpected) was also recently cast and will play Vincent’s friend JT.
For Fox's upcoming comedy pilot El Jefe, Deadline reports that Ryan Hansen will play the lead. The Party Down and Veronica Mars alum will come to the show as the 30-year-old that is tossed out of his Brentwood home and moves in with his nanny. The humor of the show comes from the head to head situations between Hansen's character the "strong-willed son" of his Latin American nanny.
In more comedy pilot news, Heather Burns(Bored To Death) is coming to the NBC pilot of Save Me. The show stars Anne Heche as a woman that believes she can channel God after an accident. Burns will be playing her friend. She joins Lamon Rucker in the cast who is set to play a Dr. John Wilkins.
For the Jekyll & Hyde-style medical drama Do No Harm, Mousa Kraish has been added to the project. Kraish will play will play the "attending clinical pharmacologist, a man of science and religion who has a sharp wit and sharper mind." Steven Pasquale takes the lead role as a neurosurgeon dealing with his alter-ego who wants to destroy his personal and professional lives.
Deadline also reports that Malin Akerman has signed on for the role of Portia de Rossi's sister in the ABC comedy pilot The Smart One. Akerman plays a former beauty queen, weather girl, and mayor who catches the envy of her sister. Written by Don Todd, the show also recently signed on Jean Smart to play the mother of the sisters.
In drama pilot news, NBC's Chicago Fire has cast Eamonn Walker as Chief Walter Boden. A man who was once a Golden Gloves champ, now thinking about retirement. The show is about the men and women of the Chicago Fire Department and the complex relationships they have. Dick Wolf is executive producing with Jeffrey Nachmanoff directing.
THR reports that Eureka's Colin Ferguson has been tapped to star in Like Father, the Fox comedy pilot loosely inspired by Cougar Town co-creator Bill Lawrence's relationship with his father. Lawrence will write, direct and executive produce the show that revolves around Will Lyons. The show takes a look at the relationship between Will and his father who will be played by Ferguson.
Michael Urie will be coming to CBS's Partners according to Deadline. The Ugly Betty alum will play a gay friend and business partner to a straight longtime friend. The show comes from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchick and David Kohan. Sophia Bush is already in the cast as the straight guys fiance.
The cast of Ray Donovan is growing now that Pooch Hall is joining the cast of the Showtime drama that stars Liev Schreiber. Schreiber plays Ray, a fixer in LA who takes care of all the problems of the rich and famous, but he can't fix his personal issues. Hall will play a fighter at Ray's brothers boxing gym.
Sanjay Gupta and David E. Kelley's medical drama pilot Chelsea General is gaining a little more steam as Emily Swallow and Saryu Rao are now on board. Deadline reports that Swallow will play a young resident who is still learning a lot. Rao is set to play a "fast-talking, Olympic multi-tasker" by the name of Dr. Sydney Saxena. The doctor is so focused on her work that it becomes the only thing she does and ends up hurting her relationships.
