A week after casting a key role on Fox's Gang Related, the midseason drama has recast the part.
Miami Vice alum Saundra Santiago has replaced Wizards of Waverly Place's Maria Canals-Barrera on the Ramon Rodriguez-starrer, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The drama revolves around Ryan (Charlie's Angels' Rodriguez), a gang member sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department and rise through its ranks. He must balance obligations to his crime family with an increasing sense of loyalty to his new "family" -- the SFPD's Gang Task Force.
Santiago will recur as Marciela, Javier's (Cliff Curtis) wife and mother to Carlos (Reynaldo Gallegos) and Dante (Jay Hernandez). Though they're not related by blood, she considers Ryan to be a third son.
In addition to Miami Vice, where she played Detective Gina Calabrese for more than 100 episodes, Santiago's credits include Guiding Light, The Sopranos, Damages and One Life to Live. She's repped by DBA.
An exact premiere date for Gang Related has yet to be announced.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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