According to Deadline.com's Nellie Andreeva, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has almost closed a deal to appear in Magic City, a Starz show set for March 2012. Magic City sounds like it'll be more along the lines of Boardwalk Empire/The Sopranos, as it's set in Miami circa the 1950s and concerns the "collision of mobsters, politicians, and entertainers at the first preeminent Miami hotel just as Fidel Castro takes control of Cuba and shuts down Havana as a gambling haven".
Morgan will play the man who built the hotel, so those who were wanting Morgan to up the menace factor in a bad guy role may be sorely disappointed. Still, I like this move for all involved. Starz has been gaining a lot of positive feedback for their original series offerings, as Party Down is the definition of cult classic comedy, Spartacus spawned a second season and a prequel, and Pillars of the Earth was nominated for several Golden Globe awards. I see Starz going the way of AMC; I don't think they'll produce two of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time like AMC has, but I think Starz can keep steady high quality programming that will garner awards buzz and subsequent subscriber bumps. Fans of scripted programming need also rejoice as there can never be too much good TV.
Morgan should benefit from the role as well. While he's had recurring roles on television, ranging from John Winchester on Supernatural to Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy, he's not really done a whole lot of TV work, so to have someone of his talent on a series that has the chance to be great is rather exciting to think about. His presence on screen is another win for TV, a medium that has been wooing movie stars pretty steadily for the last few years. Obviously we don't know much about the show itself, but if Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the first person to sign on, I can't wait to see who else comes in to round out the cast.
What do you think about the casting? Would you have gone with anyone else in the role? Who would you like to see join Morgan in Magic City?
I’m pretty sure the guy on the right is Javier Bardem… but then again it’s nearly impossible to distinguish the two.
I'm pretty sure the guy on the right is Javier Bardem… but then again it's nearly impossible to distinguish the two.
Nope, it’s definietly JDM. A few years ago, when Bardiem was nominated for the Oscar, I was sure it was Morgan in the audience :)
Nope, it's definietly JDM. A few years ago, when Bardiem was nominated for the Oscar, I was sure it was Morgan in the audience :)
If he was going back to TV, why couldn't he go back to being Papa Winchester? Everyone else and their dog has returned from the afterlife, I think it only fair that he gets to as well ;)
I think he should return to supernatural as well it's a great show and now it the time for his return.