First Cast Members Revealed for Syfy’s The Magicians Pilot
Way back in April we learned that Syfy was developing “The Magicians,” about a group of 20-somethings who study magic and discover that the fantasy world they read about as children is real; and now that filming of the pilot is about to kick off, we have casting news and more details.
From the Press Release:
Syfy and Universal Cable Productions have cast Stella Maeve (below left; “Chicago PD”), Hale Appleman (below middle; Teeth), and Arjun Gupta (below right; “Nurse Jackie”) in key roles for the upcoming pilot “The Magicians,” an adaptation of Lev Grossman’s beloved #1 New York Times best-selling book series, which begins production in New Orleans this December. Acclaimed independent film producer Mike Cahill (I Origins, Another Earth) is signed on to direct.
Stella Maeve will play the beautiful and confident Julia, a wealthy and brilliant Ivy Leaguer who seems destined for success. But Julia’s future plans are forever altered after she is denied admittance to the mysterious Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy. Unaccustomed to failure, Julia finds life meaningless now that the possibilities of a previously unseen magical world have been denied to her. But she may get another chance to pursue a career in magic when she’s recruited by a secret society.
Hale Appleman will portray Eliot, a student at the Brakebills who is an odd combination of a preppy with intrinsic coolness. Effortlessly hip, with his air of self-possession, Eliot is accustomed to commanding any clique, and he’s a natural leader of his fellow magical students. He will prove a sometimes frustrating ally in Quentin’s fortunes — and may soon factor into a series of perilous adventures.
Arjun Gupta will portray Penny, a young man with an edgy look and attitude. He’s deliberately intimidating to Quentin, his new roommate and fellow magic student at Brakebills. A reluctant telepath, he is bedeviled by voices that hint at pathways to other worlds.
“The Magicians,” produced by Universal Cable Productions, follows 20-somethings who, while studying magic in New York, discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real and poses grave danger to humanity. John McNamara (“Prime Suspect”) and Sera Gamble (“Supernatural”) will write the script with Michael London (Milk) as producer.
Lev Grossman’s Magicians trilogy has been an international sensation, published and widely praised in more than twenty countries. The epic conclusion to the series, The Magician’s Land, just opened at #1 on the New York Times Hardcover Best Seller’s list.
Categorized:News
