Casting News - January 15, 2020
CBS' Young Sheldon; National Geographic's Genius: Aretha; and Showtime's City on a Hill.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC's GENIUS: ARETHA
- Shaian Jordan, Marque Richardson, Pauletta Washington, Steven Norfleet, Omar J. Dorsey, Amanda Warren and Stacey Sargeant have been cast in recurring roles on the anthology series' upcoming third season. Jordan is a relative newcomer. Richardson currently stars in Netflix's Dear White People, which has been renewed for a fourth season. Washington recurred on Netflix's She's Gotta Have It. Norfleet recently recurred on HBO's Watchmen. Dorsey currently stars in OWN's Queen Sugar, which has been renewed for a fifth season. Warren starred in the first season of USA's The Purge. Sargeant's guest credits include NBC's The Blacklist and CBS' Elementary.
- Jordan will play a young Aretha Franklin, known as Little Re. She is the shy, immensely talented daughter of celebrated Detroit preacher Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (Courtney B. Vance), who thrusts her into the spotlight at a very young age. Jordan replaces Sanai Victoria, who was originally cast in the role.
- Dorsey will play James Cleveland, the new choir director who has come from Chicago to join CL Franklin's church in Detroit.
- Richardson will play King Curtis. Washington will play Grandmother Rachel. Norfleet will play Cecil. Warren will play Melba Parks. Sargeant will play Dinah Washington.
CBS' YOUNG SHELDON
- Reba McEntire will appear in an upcoming episode of the comedy's third season. As a country singer, she has won three Grammy Awards in 1987, 1994 and 2018. As an actress, she starred for six seasons in The WB's Reba and one season in ABC's Malibu Country.
- She will play June, Dale Ballard's (Craig T. Nelson) fun and fiery ex-wife. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with Meemaw (Annie Potts), who is currently dating the little league coach.
SHOWTIME's CITY ON A HILL
- Matthew Del Negro has been promoted to series regular on the drama's upcoming second season. He recurred during the first season - appearing in four episodes overall. He has previously recurred in ABC's Scandal, Amazon's Goliath, CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles and MTV's Teen Wolf.
- He plays Chris Caysen, a detective in the Boston PD's Gang Division.
