More (mostly) TV pilot season casting news you can use…
— Khandi Alexander has booked a co-starring role opposite Alan Cumming and Bojana Novakovic’s in the CBS drama pilot “Instinct.” Based on the upcoming book by James Patterson and directed by Marc Webb, “Instinct” centers on Dylan (Cumming), a former CIA operative who has since built a “normal” life as a gifted professor and writer but is pulled back into his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer on the loose. Alexander will play Lizzi’s (Bojana Novakovic’s) police superior.
— Christine Adams is set for a co-starring role opposite Cress Williams, Nafessa Williams and China Anne McClain in The CW’s “Black Lightning” superhero drama pilot from Greg Berlanti, Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. Written by Akil and Brock Akil, based on the DC character and to be directed by Akil, “Black Lightning” centers on Jefferson Pierce (Williams). He made his choice: He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter, Jennifer (McCain) hellbent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend Black Lightning. Christine Adams will play Lynn, Jefferson’s ex-wife who exudes confidence and intelligence. Although she’s got a mischievous side, she’s not one to be trifled with when it comes to family.
— Toni Trucks is set as a series regular in CBS’ untitled Navy SEAL drama pilot from former “Justified,” “Shameless” and “Animal Kingdom” executive producers. The untitled project follows the lives of the elite Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask. Trucks will play Diaz, the logistics officer responsible for making the arrangements to get the team and their gear where they need to be.
— Romany Malco and Glynn Turman have been cast as the co-lead and a series regular (respectively) opposite Adhir Kalyan in “Brothered Up,” the buddy cop comedy from CBS TV Studios. “Brothered Up” centers on Calvin (Malco), an emotionally guarded African American cop who is partnered with Farooq (Kalyan), an emotionally available Pakistani cop, and they are forced to find a way to connect as they patrol a Detroit neighborhood. Malco’s Calvin is described as a great cop who has always been a lone wolf but now is newly partnered with the optimistic Farooq, who has a gung-ho attitude. Turman will play Frank, Calvin’s retired-cop father, who’s landed at his son’s house where he’s crashing until he meets a potential fourth wife.
— Rochelle Aytes has landed a series-regular role in ABC’s thriller pilot “Doomsday,” from producer Carol Mendelsohn and Sony TV. “Doomsday” starts in the aftermath of 9/11, when the U.S. government institutes a secret think tank featuring the most creative minds in science and entertainment that is tasked with dreaming up man-made disaster scenarios and their possible solutions. Because the hypothetical ideas are deemed extremely dangerous, the list is sealed and the program shut down. But when a catastrophe occurs that’s ripped from the pages of the missing doomsday book, the team is brought back years later to prevent the disasters of their own making. Aytes will play Dr. Elle, a renowned physicist, MD and author who also is a member of the former Doomsday Project think tank. Notable for her ability to popularize science, “making complex ideas digestible for the masses,” Elle starts out with the laissez-faire opinion that any problems people create can be fixed later.
— And finally, Rashida Jones has booked a guest-starring role on ABC’s “Black-Ish” playing Bow’s (Tracee Ellis Ross’) sister in an episode scheduled to air in late April. The storyline will center on the incorrect belief that the two sisters have a lot in common. Also set to return to the show is ‘Hamilton’s’ Daveed Diggs, who will reprise his role as Bow’s hippie brother, and Anna Deavere Smith, who plays Bow’s mother.
That’s all for now!
