Mega Superhero TV Casting News Roundup!

Posted on August 18, 2014 in TV

Superheroes have overrun theaters this year with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Solider, X-Men Days of Future Past, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Now they’re invading our living room this fall, which should keep us more than entertained as we eagerly await next year’s blockbuster season.

Marvel gives us a second helping of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. During their midseason break, ABC launches Peggy Carter into the spotlight with Agent Cater. DC is looking to capitalize on Arrow’s success with three new television series The Flash, Constantine, and Gotham. DC treated Comic-Con attendees with an early screening of the pilot episodes, while us mere mortals sadly have some time to kill before the new series premieres. To help you keep track of everything, we’ve rounded up the latest casting news as you wait for your show(s) to start.

Don’t worry. We won’t make you choose Marvel or DC, but we will start with Marvel since it’s short and sweet.

In AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.., Phil Coulson is now the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and he and his team will have some help from former warrior princess Lucy Lawless who will play Isabel Hartley, a longtime S.H.I.E.L.D. operative skilled with knives.

Simon Kassianides (Quantum of Solace) is also on board to play Bakshi, who is described as a confident right-hand man who’s not afraid to do the dirty work.

Nick Blood joins the cast as Lance Hunter. In the comics, Hunter led Special Tactical Reverse for International Key Emergencies (or S.T.R.I.K.E. to y’all at home). He has worked heavily with Captain America and Captain Britain, so if we can’t get Steve Rogers on the small screen then perhaps we might get Brian Braddock instead.

Dollhouse’s Reed Diamond is set to play Daniel Whitehall – aka the Kraken – a legendary HYDRA agent. Kraken trained some of Hydra’s best agents in the comics, so it seems as though Hydra might be getting some new blood.

NYPD Blue’s Henry Simmons also lands a role as Alphonso “Mac” Mackenzie, a mechanic in his early 30s who should prove himself useful when it comes to restoring a lot of the organization’s toys.

Last, but certainly not least, Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan joins the cast as Skye’s father. He’s referred to as “The Doctor”. It’s a safe bet to assume he’s not human, but he’s also probably not the time lord either. Hopefully this season answers the questions surrounding Skye’s parents and her classification as an O-8-4.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns to ABC on September 23, 2014

Hayley Atwell will TAKE center stage in AGENT CARTER, an eight episode mini-series scheduled for the midseason break of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 2. Although no casting announcements have been made with regards to the talent in front of the camera, Agent Carter will have some familiar names behind the camera.

Louis D’Esposito the director of Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter helms the pilot episode written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the duo who wrote the screenplay for Captain America: The First Avenger. The directing duo responsible for Captain America: The Winter Solider Anthony Russo and Joe Russo have been recruited to direct episodes two and three, and Joe Johnston the director of Captain America: The First Avenger is attached to direct the fourth episode of the series. Although Cap never got that dance, I’m sure he’d be happy to know his best girl is in good hands.

Now, moving on to the DC side of things…

THE FLASH is just getting underway but it looks as if the explosion of the particle accelerator at S.T.A.R. Labs will be bringing heroes and their aliases into Central City.

Alhough it hasn’t been announce who will be playing Tony Woodward aka Girder; it’s being reported he will be a reccurring character on series starting in episode six.

Here’s the character description: someone who used to bully young Barry in the schoolyard. Now, as a result of a twist of fate, Woodward is “a grinning lunkhead who loves destruction,” an “unstoppable force… who can transmute any part of his body into solid steel.”

The Flash is already putting together The Rogues – a group of supervillians. The pilot will feature Chad Rook as Clyde Mardon (aka the Weather Wizard), and Wentworth Miller is The Rouge’s ringleader Captain Cold. Its members have varied throughout the comics but we can probably expect to see casting announcements for Mirror Master, The Pied Piper and Heat Wave, among others.

Last month, Robbie Amell (Arrow’s Stephen Amell cousin) was added to the cast as Ronnie Raymond aka Firestorm. He is thought to have perished in the explosion and is also the husband of Caitlin Snow, so things will heat up when she finds out he’s alive. In the comics Caitlin Snow becomes Killer Frost, one of Firestorm’s enemies.

Bette Sans Couci aka Plastique is also another villain who got her start facing off with Firestorm and Kelly Frye will play the metahuman with the explosive personality. Couci is bomb disposal expert who now has the ability to turn any item into an explosive thanks to the same particle accelerator accident responsible for Barry Allen’s superspeed. From the look of things she won’t start out a villain, but rather a victim. On the run from US forces led by General Wade Eiling played by Clancy Brown (Sleepy Hollow), she will be looking to weaponize her new found abilities. It might also be worth noting that Plastique in the comics has been a member of the Suicide Squad and a love interest of Ray Palmer aka The Atom. Both of which can be found on Arrow.

The Flash premieres at 8pm on October 7, 2014 on The CW.

ARROW is blowing the doors open to super powered characters by launching a shared television universe with The Flash. In addition to having familiar faces like Colton Haynes becoming iconic characters like Arsenal; the series is bringing in some recognizable stars for its third season. Like Devon Aoki as Tatsu Yamahsiro aka Katana and Karl Yune as Maseo Yamashiro. They also tapped Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer aka The Atom and Peter Stormare as Count Vertigo. They’re also bringing in other T.V. alumni.

Arrow already made a nod to Manhunter with Kate Spencer, but David Cubitt (Medium) joins the cast as Mark Shaw who is also one of many characters to take on the moniker. Unlike many of the other guest star who will have recurring roles, it appears that he’ll only be featured in episode 3 as an A.R.G.U.S. agent.

Actor J.R. Ramires has been cast as Ted Grant aka Wildcat. Wildcat in the comics has been a part of the Justice Soiety for America as well as a mentor to Black Canary. Perhaps there is still a chance that Laurel Lance will take up the Black Canary persona.

NYPD Blue’s Charlottes Ross has been added to the cast as Felicity Smoak’s mother.

Batman’s infamous villain Ra’s Al Ghul will finally make his appearance in Starling City, and although we don’t know who will be playing the “Demon’s Head” we do have his character description:

[Ra’s Al Ghul] Male, 40s-50s. Open Ethnicity. Accent preferred. An Iconic villain from the pages of DC Comics. Leader of the League of Assassins. Real, mysterious, of a bygone era. Proud and unforgiving, Ra’s is a ruthless strategist, a master of martial arts, and a shaper of history. He carries the wisdom of the ages, and protects some of its greatest secrets. Thing the character of Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. Someone just terrifying. Not a lunkhead, but a smart and physically imposing man. MAJOR RECURRING GUEST STAR.

Arrow returns to The CW on October 8, 2014.

Fox is looking to capitalize on a GOTHAM without Batman. Although they’ve done most of their cast announcements already Robin Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot, Ben McKenzie as the honorable James Gordon, Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle, Donal Logue in the role of Harvey Bullock, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney, Clare Foley as Ivy Pepper, and Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma.

Now Dexter’s David Zayas joins the cast as Salvatore Maroni also known as the man responsible for disfiguring Harvey Dent aka Two Face.

We also have Zabryna Guevara playing Captain Essen, Erin Richards as Barbara Kean, and Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth.

You can’t talk about Gotham without mentioning the Clown Prince of Crime. The Joker. Although it hasn’t been confirmed that he will be a series regular… yet. He’s been teased in the latest trailer and there are rumors that he would be introduced as one of the standup comedians at Fish Mooney’s club. Either way this the series that will be making the most casting announcements as the series goes on.

Gotham is set to air on September 22, 2014 on Fox

Constantine hasn’t even made it to air officially, but it already had to make changes to its pilot episode after it was decided that Lucy Griffith’s Liv would be dropped from the show. However, they are bringing in Angelica Celaya as Zed, a sorcerer who is also one of Constantine’s love interests.

In addition to having Charles Halford as Chas Chandler and Harold Perrineau as the angel Manny. Michael James Shaw has been cast as Papa Midnight, otherwise known as the “voodoo king of New Orleans”.

Constantine will also be getting some help from a score composed by Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead). Reminds me of Mozart with a hint of Skrillex – check out the video below to see what I’m talking about.

Constantine premieres October 24, 2014 on NBC.

These are just the shows on network television. We still have The Defenders: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist on Netflix. Not to mention the shows on cable like The Strain, Preacher, and The Walking Dead. We’ll keep you posted as more news continues to surface on your favorite comic book television series.

The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson (aka Ceej)
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