Author: Kate Stanhope, Lesley Goldberg

March 23, 2016 10:00am PT by Kate Stanhope, Lesley Goldberg

 Anthony Harvey/FilmMagic/Getty Images; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Sean Harris, Yetide Badaki and Bruce Langley have signed on for the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy novel.

Starz’s American Gods is rounding out its cast.

Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), Yetide Badaki (Masters of Sex) and Bruce Langley (Deadly Waters) have all signed on for series regular roles in the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy novel, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The drama centers on a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of biblical and mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon (The 100’s Ricky Whittle), is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a con man but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation for a battle with the new deities.  

Harris will play Mad Sweeney, a down on his luck leprechaun who is having a hard time understanding how he lost his charm and way. Always up for a good fight, Sweeney is never deprived while in the employment of Mr. Wednesday. A BAFTA winner, Harris’ credits also include Prometheus and The Borgias. He is repped by Troika.

Badaki is set as Bilquis, an ancient goddess of love who craves the worship she inspired in eras long gone, and who is eager to find that same relevance in today’s world. The actress, whose credits also include NCIS: New Orleans and Criminal Minds, is repped by Innovative Artists and MadCatch Entertainment. 

Langley will portray Technical Boy, a New God who is purveyor of all things technology. Desperate to prove himself, and hungry for respect and power, he struggles to keep his impulsivity and petulance in check, making him dangerously unpredictable. This marks the first TV role for Langley, who is repped by D2 management and A&J.

The trio join a cast that also includes Ian McShane and Emily Browning.

Production on the series from FremantleMedia North America will begin in April. Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (The River) will pen the script and serve as showrunners. David Slade will direct the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA’s Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk will executive produce alongside Fuller, Green, Slade and Gaiman. Starz senior vps original programming Marta Fernandez and Ken Segna will oversee for the network.

Starz

March 22, 2016 9:00am PT by Kate Stanhope, Lesley Goldberg

 Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images

The ‘People v. O.J. Simpson’ actor will play Baby’s overprotective dad.

ABC’s Dirty Dancing reboot has finally found Baby’s father.

Bruce Greenwood has joined the three-hour musical as Dr. Jake Houseman, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Written and exec produced by Jessica Sharzer (American Horror Story, The L Word), the movie follows in the footsteps of the 1987 hit film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, and is set in the early 1960s. The film centers on Baby (Abigail Breslin), an innocent young woman who vacations with her affluent parents at a Catskill Mountains resort and gets swept off her feet by Johnny (Colt Prattes), a handsome, working-class dance instructor.

A well-known, type-A heart surgeon, Jake met his wife, Marjorie (Debra Messing), waiting tables at the same Catskills resort where he is now bringing his family — his first time back in a decade. Jake does his best to protect his beloved younger daughter, Baby, as she develops a summer crush on Johnny and makes friends with the staff.

Jerry Orbach famously played the role of Jake in the original film. Greenwood joins a cast that includes Nicole Scherzinger and Modern Family‘s Sarah Hyland. 

The remake hails from Lionsgate TV and Allison Shearmur Productions (The Hunger Games), with the original film’s screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein, attached as an executive producer. Grammy nominee Adam Anders and Peer Astrom (Glee) serve as executive music producers for ABC’s rendition, with Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, Bring It On) onboard as choreographer. Anders and Judy Cairo (Crazy Heart) will produce the movie, which will be directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires). Stephen Altman (Gosford Park) is set as production designer.

Greenwood can currently be seen on FX’s The People v. O.J. Simpson as then-Los Angeles County district attorney Gil Garcetti. The actor, who is known for his roles in Mad Men, Star Trek Into Darkness, Thirteen Days and Flight, is repped by Gersh and Binder & Associates.

ABC has not yet set a premiere date for Dirty Dancing.

March 04, 2016 1:45pm PT by Kate Stanhope, Lesley Goldberg

 Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images

The two-time Golden Globe nominee has been recurring on the network’s ‘Agents of SHIELD.’

Blair Underwood is being summoned back to court.

The L.A. Law alum has boarded ABC’s divorce drama pilot produced by Reese Witherspoon, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

From writer Meaghan Oppenheimer, the project centers on a ruthless Dallas divorce attorney whose life begins to unravel when her emotionally damaged, love-addicted sister resurfaces, triggering self-destructive tendencies and exposing long-hidden family secrets.

Underwood will play James, Gemma’s boss and sometimes lover. He was Gemma’s law professor and mentor for years, instilling in her a sense of cutthroat ambition. He’s the one person unafraid to cut Gemma down to size.

The role extends Underwood’s relationship at the network, where he previously starred on Dirty Sexy Money and more recently has recurred on Agents of SHIELD. His other roles include In Treatment, The New Adventures of Old Christine and an upcoming appearance on The Good Wife. He is repped by ICM and Thruline.

Underwood joins previously cast Grey’s Anatomy alum T.R. Knight and American Crime’s Penelope Ann Miller.

Oppenheimer (Fear the Walking Dead) will write the untitled divorce drama and executive produce with Witherspoon and her Pacific Standard topper Bruna Papandrea. ABC Studios will produce.

Keep up with all the latest pickups, castings and eventual series orders with THR‘s handy guide to pilot season.

Pilot Season