Devon Graye (Dexter), CJ Thomason (Harper’s Island) and Wes Chatham (The Unit) have joined Tammin Sursok
(Aquamarine) in Husk for After Dark Films and writer / director Brett Simmons. The story sees five friends on a weekend trip who become stranded
in isolated farmland when crows attack their SUV. They soon realize
that the cornfields are inhabited by reanimated human scarecrows
who reproduce by killing and force their undead victims to join
their ranks. Graye plays the brainiac of the group, Thomason is the blue-collar
guy, and Chatham is the jock. Husk is currently shooting in Iowa.
Shohreh Aghdashloo and Marcia Gay Harden have signed on to the indie drama, The No Game, for director Sherry Horman. The story, written by David Abramowitz and Elizabeth Fein centers on an 18-year old Jewish woman who finds out her biological mother is
Palestinian. The search for her identity takes her to an aunt
(Aghdashloo) in Brooklyn, where their immediate bonding causes
problems with her adoptive mother (Harden, who is in
negotiations). Harden and Aghdashloo have a history of competing for awards, going back to 2004 when both were nominated for Osacars: Harden for House of Sand and Fog and Aghdashloo for Mystic River. They’re also in competition for Emmys for their respective work in House of Saddam and
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.
Laura Dern’s single-camera comedy pilot, Enlightened, has just been picked up by HBO. Show will star Dern as a self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening and
becomes determined to live an enlightened life, creating havoc at
home and work. Dern’s director on the 2007 film, Year of the Dog, is also on board to produce. “The only thing I can think of cooler than making a show at HBO is
doing it with Laura Dern,” White said. “I am totally stoked.”
Bella Thorne (My Own Worst Enemy) will have a recurring role on HBO’s Big Love. According to a breakdown released in July, the role Thorne was to
play was Christie, Barb’s (Jeanne Tripplehorn) niece and Cindy’s
(Judith Hoag) daughter who has deep anger issues.
But sources indicate that Thorne will in fact play Barb’s daughter
Tancy, replacing Jolean Wejbe, who played the role the first three
seasons of the polygamist drama. Thorne will also be seen in the upcoming indie drama, Under The Influence, for director Chris Long.
Former Los Angeles Laker and former Mr. Vanessa Williams, Rick Fox, will have a recurring role on the upcoming reboot of Melrose Place for The CW. On the show, a contemporary take on the popular 1990s soap, Fox
will play the owner of the restaurant where all the aspiring actors
on the show work.
Fox has previously appeared on One Tree Hill, Ugly Betty and
The Game.
Mehcad Brooks, who is already a regular on True Blood, has just landed a regular spot on ABC’s mid-season legal drama, The Deep End. On the show, set at a prestigious L.A. law firm, Brooks will play a
new character, Malcolm Bennet, an associate at the firm. No word is given as to how this new casting will affect the status of his character, Benedict “Eggs” Talley’s, on True Blood. Brooks has previously appeared on Desperate Housewives as well.
Megan Mullally has joined the cast of Starz’ original comedy series, Party Down, replacing Jane Lynch, who now stars on Fox’s Glee. On the show about a Los Angeles catering team, she will play Lydia
Dunfree, a middle-aged refugee from a lousy marriage who leaves
small town life to move to Hollywood where her 13-year-old daughter
Escapade hopes to make it as an actress. Production of Season 2 starts this month with an eye toward an April 2010 premiere.