Today had so much casting news I had to split it in half. I gave you some this morning, now here's a little more for bed time.
Pay networks Showtime and Cinemax are ramping up production as both Ray Donovan and Banshee pick up three actors each. The CW and ABC are getting ready to battle with their Beauty and The Beast stories. Both broadcasters have their lead roles all set. CW's other big project Arrow also picks up some dads for the young lead characters.
Variety reports that Showtime has added Johnathon Schaech, Kerris Dorsey, and Ambyr Childers to the drama pilot Ray Donovan. The show stars Liev Schreiber as Ray, a fixer for the celebs of LA, he can solve everyone else's problems, but can't figure out his own issues. Schaech will play a movie star that employs Ray somehow. Dorsey is set to play Ray's daughter, and Childers has the role of a young star that Ray is protecting. Jon Voight, Elliot Gould, Dash Mihok, Paula Malcomson, Peter Jacobson, Pooch Hall, and Kate Moening are also in the cast.
According to Deadline, three new actors have been cast in the Cinemax series Banshee. The new action drama with Alan Ball executive producing is centered around an ex-convict and thief who steals the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, PA. He uses his cover to continue on with his criminal activities while also acting out his own form of justice. The three new regulars are Matt Servitto, Trieste Dunn, and Daniel Ross. Servitto has been cast as the senior deputy in Banshee. Dunn will play a female deputy in the sheriff's department and Ross will play the Mayor, Dan Kendall, a young and idealistic leader. Shooting stars in Charlotte, North Carolina soon and is expected to have a 2013 premiere.
Deadline reports The CW and ABC both have Beauty and the Beast projects in the works right now. The CW has recently cast it's male lead as Jay Ryan. The Australian actor will play opposite Kristin Kreuk in the new drama which is based on the CBS series from the 80s. In this telling of the story, Kreuk is an NYPD homicide detective who witnesses her mothers murder. The killer was quickly taken care of by the Beast. Ryan is the Beast and the result of a military experiment gone wrong. It's taken Kreuk's character many years to find him, but when she does he has to try to hide his identity.
ABC's version of the story has picked up Ruth Bradley to play the female lead of Grace. The Irish actress with play the princess who has an unusual connection with Shiro, the beast, played by Darius Campbell. The connection between the princess and the mercenary bodyguard is still not really known. Yves Simoneau is directing with a script from Jon Steinberg.
CW's other big project Arrow also has two new cast member. It's Paul Blackthorne, most recently seen in The River, who will play the father of Laurel, Oliver Queen(Green Arrow)'s love interest. The character, Detective Quentin Lance is described as gruff and determined and believes that law and order is the only method of true justice.
Also onboard, Deadline reports that Jamey Sheridan will play Robert Queen, Oliver's father and Moira Queen's husband. Both of the actors coming to Arrow are billed as guest actors though it is likely that they will be recurring many times throughout the show.
