Ariana DeBose to Star Opposite Nicole Kidman in “Scarpetta”

Ariana DeBose has a new license to thrill…

The 33-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress, singer and dancer has been cast as a series regular on Scarpetta, starring and executive produced by Nicole Kidman.

Ariana DeBose,Prime Video has officially ordered two seasons of the series, which is based on Patricia Cornwell’s best-selling Kay Scarpetta book series.

In addition DeBose, the mystery thriller has also added Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Ezra), Emmy nominee Simon Baker (Breath), Rosy McEwen and Jake Cannavale (The Offer).

Scarpetta follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), Chief Medical Examiner, as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.

DeBose will play Lucy Farinelli-Watson, Dorothy’s daughter; Bobby Cannavale will play former detective Pete Marino; Baker joins as FBI profiler Benton Wesley; McEwen joins as Past Kay Scarpetta and Jake Cannavale will play Past Pete Marino.

“I’m beyond excited that this is finally happening. This will be great fun for all, and I’m grateful for the immense talent that the show is drawing. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman. Their wanting to do this is humbling and simply awesome. Working with the brilliant Liz Sarnoff is amazing. Blumhouse and Prime Video are a dream. This has been worth waiting for, and I’m so looking forward to the show,” Cornwell shared.

Liz Sarnoff will write, executive produce, and showrun. David Gordon Green (Halloween, Stronger) is set to direct the first two episodes.

Kidman will executive produce for Blossom Films, and Curtis will executive produce for Comet Pictures.

Jacob Elordi Starring in the Prime Video Australia Original Series “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”

Jacob Elordi is hitting the road north

The 26-year-old half-Spanish Australian actor is starring opposite Ciarán Hinds and Odessa Young in the Prime Video Australia Original series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a television adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name.

Jacob Elordi,Production on the new 5-part drama series is underway in Down Under.

Also rounding out the cast are Olivia DeJonge, Heather Mitchell, Thomas Weatherall, Show Kasamatsu, Charles An and Simon Baker.

Elordi returned home to Australia to play the lead role of the younger Dorrigo Evans in the 1940s. Young will portray Amy Mulvaney, DeJonge will portray younger Ella and Baker will portray Keith. Fast-forward to the 1980s, the series will feature Hinds as the older Dorrigo and Mitchell as older Ella. Weatherall will portray Frank Gardiner, Kasamatsu will portray Major Nakamura and Charles An will portray The Goanna.

Set against the shadows of World War IIThe Narrow Road to the Deep North tells the epic story of Lieutenant Dorrigo Evans, and how his all-too-brief love affair with Amy Mulvaney shaped his life. The story is told over multiple time periods, as we journey from Evans’ childhood to his experience as a prisoner-of-war on the Thailand-Burma Railway as a young man, and later in life, as a respected surgeon and Australian war hero.

According to a release, the series is a love story to sustain audiences through the darkest of times, an intimate character study illustrating the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and an investigation into a marriage and an unforgettable love affair.

The series will launch on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada and will be distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television. It is produced by Curio Pictures in Australia. Working with Curio Pictures’ executive producers Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is adapted by writer Shaun Grant and will be directed by Justin Kurzel, both of whom are also executive producers. Alexandra Taussig is producing.

“With talents like Jacob Elordi, Ciarán Hinds and Odessa Young at the helm, The Narrow Road to the Deep North promises to be a cinematic, visceral, and undeniable contemporary love story, which explores the power of mateship and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity,” said Sarah Christie, senior development executive at Amazon MGM Studios. “We just know that this series is going to resonate with customers in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and are proud to be partnering with Curio Pictures’ Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner, who will bring this incredible story to life alongside the award-winning director and executive producer Justin Kurzel, and writer and executive producer Shaun Grant.”

Pascal Cast in Recurring Role on CBS’ “The Mentalist”

Pedro Pascal is about to go Mental

The 38-year-old Chilean actor has landed a recurring role on CBS’ Simon Baker-starrer The Mentalist.

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The Graceland alum will portray FBI Special Agent Marcus Pike, according to TVLine.

Pike is described as a “charming” blue-collar cop with FBI smarts. When he asks Jane (Simon Baker) and Lisbon (Robin Tunney) to help find a band of art thieves, he’s immediately attracted to Lisbon and tries to sweep her off her feet.

Pascal, who will also appear in an iconic role on the new season of HBO’s hit drama Game of Thrones, will debut in Episode 16 and appear in at least five episodes.

Pascal, who appeared in a guest starring role on Showtime’s Homeland, has previously had arcs on CBSThe Good Wife and ABC’s Red Widow.

The Mentalist airs Sundays at 10:00 pm ET on CBS.