Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Development News - Molly Shannon Joins Showtime's 'Big Deal'; Coolio to Appear in 'Vegas High'; Plus 5 More Updates!

Development News - February 25, 2020

CBS' The Equalizer & Ways & Means; The CW's The Republic of Sarah; FX's Untitled Paul Simms; HBO Max's Vegas High; and Showtime's Big Deal & The President Is Missing.




SHOWTIME's BIG DEAL
  • Molly Shannon has joined the cast of the comedy pilot starring Vanessa Bayer. She starred for seven seasons in NBC's Saturday Night Live, earning one Emmy nomination for her performance. She has also been Emmy nominated for her recurring roles on HBO's Enlightened and NBC's Will & Grace. She currently stars in Comedy Central's The Other Two, which returns for its second season later this year.
  • She will play Jackie, the charismatic and popular host at the home shopping channel.
HBO MAX's VEGAS HIGH
  • Rapper Coolio will appear in a potentially recurring role in the drama pilot starring Reagan Rozas and Jordana Spiro. His casting marks his first major recurring role in a television series.
  • He will play Ray, a Las Vegas businessman and Olive's (Kyanna Simpson) uncle.
THE CW's THE REPUBLIC OF SARAH
  • Stella Baker has been cast in the lead role on the drama pilot written by Jeffrey Paul King. She stars in TNT's upcoming drama Tell Me Your Secret, with The CW pilot having her in first position.
  • She will play Sarah Cooper, a quintessential New Hampshirite: friendly, fiercely loyal and always willing to lend a hand. Although hesitant to be in the spotlight at first, she finds the courage to step up and fight back against an external force that threatens to destroy her beloved community.
SHOWTIME's THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING
  • Michael Rooker will co-star on the drama pilot starring David Oyelowo. He previously starred in one season of AMC's The Walking Dead and in the Guardians of the Galaxy film franchise. He also appears in the upcoming films F9 and The Suicide Squad.
  • He will play Greg Parkes, the Special Agent in Charge of the Vice Presidential Protection Detail. The impossible task of protecting James Martin (Oyelowo) has proved more than a warrior like Parkes can bear.
CBS' THE EQUALIZER
  • Liza Lapira has landed a series regular role on the drama pilot starring Queen Latifah. She recently starred in the Netflix limited series Unbelievable. She is currently recurring on The CW's Nancy Drew.
  • She will play Melody Chu, an edgy bar owner with a wry sense of humor and sunny disposition. She is a former colleague of Robyn's (Queen Latifah) with whom she's still great friends, and a highly decorated Air Force sniper in a previous life.
CBS' WAYS & MEANS
  • Amanda Warren has scored a series regular role on the drama pilot starring Patrick Dempsey. She previously starred in the first seasons of HBO's The Leftovers and USA's The Purge.
  • She will play Jerlene Brooks, a former community organizer and progressive activist. Now, she is a formidable Democratic congresswoman and rising star in the political arena. She wrestles with an inner turmoil regarding the price of power, and struggles with her progressive roots vs. the demands of leadership.
FX's UNTITLED PAUL SIMMS PROJECT
  • Lacretta has booked a series regular role on the comedy pilot starring Chris Messina and Ari Graynor. She previously starred in the 2019 film Second Act.
  • She will play Nancy, a humorous immigrant from Grenada who is now the nanny for Hunt (Messina) and Rachel's (Graynor) son.