The Civil TV show pilot at TNT has cast Courtney B. Vance, Bradley Whitford, and Toby Jones, as well as guest-star Brian d’Arcy James. A political and social drama featuring a second US Civil War, Civil will also feature Bloodline‘s Enrique Murciano in a lead role.
Set after a contested Presidential election, Civil will be directed by Damages‘ Allen Coulter and written and executive-produced by Scott Smith. Vance is set as NYPD Commissioner “Iron” John Thorne. Jones will play shock-jock Otis O’Dell, host of The Otis O’Dell Show. Whitford is Grant Taylor, a career politician, Vice President, and Democratic candidate for President.
Get all the Civil TV series details from this TNT press release.
Courtney B. Vance, Toby Jones and Bradley Whitford Join TNT’s Drama Pilot “Civil”
Brian D’Arcy James to Guest-Star in TNT Originals Pilot to be Directed by Six-Time Emmy(R) Nominee Allen Coulter from a Script by Oscar(R) Nominee Scott Smith
TNT, a division of Turner, has cast three award-winning actors in the drama pilot Civil: Courtney B. Vance, hot off his acclaimed performance as attorney Johnnie Cochran in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and soon to be seen in the films Office Christmas Party and The Mummy; Toby Jones, whose credits include the blockbuster Captain America and Hunger Games franchises; and Bradley Whitford, known for his long-running role on The West Wing and his more recent triumph in Transparent. In addition, Brian D’Arcy James (Spotlight, Smash) will guest-star the pilot, which will also feature Enrique Murciano (Bloodline, Collateral Beauty) in a lead role.
A gripping political and social drama about a second American Civil War, Civil is set to be directed by seven-time Emmy(R) nominee Allen Coulter (Damages, Nurse Jackie, Ray Donovan) and written and executive-produced by Scott Smith, who earned an Oscar(R) nomination and awards from the National Board of Review and the Broadcast Film Critics Association for A Simple Plan, which he adapted from his own bestselling novel.
Civil takes place in the wake of a hotly contested Presidential election, as America finds itself plunging uncontrollably into a modern day Civil War. The series weaves together the personal stories of citizens from all walks of life, whose actions – amplified in an age of instant media – add fuel to the conflict and affect the fate of the entire country.
Vance is set to play New York City Police Commissioner John Thorne, an old-school, law-and-order cop who’s unabashedly tough, with one newspaper dubbing him “Iron John.” As the nation’s unrest spreads to New York City, Thorne reacts with increasingly extreme measures, gradually assuming near-dictatorial power over the city he’s sworn to serve and protect.
Jones will take the role of shock-jock host Otis O’Dell, host of The Otis O’Dell Show. A Brit who has taken American citizenship, Otis prides himself on being more red-white-and-blue than most “native born” Americans. He’s smart, verbally dexterous and charmingly abrasive, with a reflexive sense of outrage. He’ll serve as both a Greek chorus for the series and, when it suits him, a political provocateur. As the national crisis he helps foment deepens, Otis will be forced to deal with his role in the unraveling of the Republic.
Whitford has been cast as Grant Taylor, the Democratic candidate for President. Taylor is a career politician who spent the past eight years trying to appear subservient in his role as Vice President, cutting against his reflex to approach every relationship from a position of domineering aggression. He comes from a background of great privilege, but he works hard to mask this behind a facade of relatability and good humor.
d’Arcy James will appear in a guest-starring role as Graham Beller, a very capable, reasonable but long-suffering news producer and sometimes wrangler. Graham is constantly towing the line between support and tough love for his anchor.
TNT previously confirmed the casting of Enrique Murciano as Speaker of the House Juan Reyes, the Republican candidate for President. He’s the son of immigrants and a proudly self-made man. As a young man, he made a fortune selling used cars, and he carried these skills with him as he turned to politics. Now he’s a back-slapper and easy hugger, but beneath his aura of good humor lurks a sharp-toothed political brawler.
TNT Originals is producing the Civil pilot in association with MGM Television. Whalerock Industries’ Lloyd Braun is executive producer and Andrew Mittman is co-executive producer under the MGM production deal with Whalerock. Thomas Kelly (Blue Bloods, Copper) serves as showrunner and executive producer.
About Whalerock Industries
Whalerock Industries is a media and technology company based in West Hollywood.
About TNT
TNT is one of cable’s top-rated networks. Seen across multiple platforms in 94 million households, TNT is home to such original drama series as Animal Kingdom, The Last Ship, The Librarians, Major Crimes, Murder in the First, Rizzoli & Isles and the upcoming Good Behavior and The Alienist, along with a new horror block featuring Tales from the Crypt. TNT is also the cable home to popular dramas like Castle, Bones, Supernatural and Grimm; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R), the Live Nation Music Awards and the iHeartRadio Music Awards; and championship sports coverage, including the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
TNT is part of Turner, a Time Warner company that creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
What do you think? How do you like the Civil TV series cast, so far. If TNT orders Civil to series, do you plan to check it out?
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