There's been a landslide of casting-related news over the past few days, as pilot season picks up and current shows plot out their season finales.
Leading the list is the new Beverly Hills, 90210, which is assembling its cast of young stars. The departure of Veronica Mars' Rob Thomas from the writing department may have dampened the show's chances, but producers are trying to make up for that loss by attracting some big-name actors.
According to E! Online, people behind the scenes have pitched one of the lead roles to Hilary Duff, the Disney-made starlet who gained popularity as the titular character in Lizzie McGuire. Duff would play Annie, a theater groupie looking to "fit in with the alternative crowd."
Alyssa Milano may also be headed for a lead role in a different show, says The Hollywood Reporter. An untitled ABC pilot is looking at the former Who's the Boss actress as the star of its comedy about a woman looking to break free from her overbearing family. Milano currently has a recurring role in NBC's My Name is Earl.
Bad news (but not necessarily awful news) for fans of the CW's Aliens in America: Adhir Kalyan, who plays Pakistani exchange student Raja in the underappreciated comedy, has signed on for a recurring role on FX's Nip/Tuck, according to OK!. Kalyan will play an awkward teenage medical prodigy who helps out at the plastic-surgery clinic. The critically acclaimed Aliens has yet to receive a pickup order for a second season, and it doesn't bode well that Kalyan is hunting for new jobs.
The post-Battlestar careers of the show's cast continue on. Tricia Helfer--slinky, sexy Cylon Number Six--has signed on to join the second season of USA's Burn Notice as a recurring character. Helfer will play Carla, who up until now was only heard on the other end of a phone.
Firefly vet Nathan Fillion has been cast in the new ABC dramedy Castle to play a mystery author who helps the NYPD solve crimes. Fillion also recurs on Desperate Housewives and starred in the short-lived Drive.
Elsewhere, Naomi Campbell will appear as herself in the season finale of Ugly Betty, Rebecca Romijn will be downgraded to a recurring star on Betty, and Cybill Shepherd will play James Roday's mom on Psych.
Comments (22)
Hilary would be perfect on 90210!
Everyone is putting dear Hilary Duff up to Lindsay Lohan for years now. When she is not even close to being same/similar to Lindsay at all what's so ever. Since day one when Hilary started Lizzie McGuire in 2001. And even the fact is Lizzie McGuire/Casper Meets Wendy is nothing like the The Parent Trap at all what's so ever. So, Hilary actually come out being similar/same to The Olsen Twins, not freakin Lindsay Lohan at all. God... People are so freakin wrong. I tell ya! Wrong.... Since day one when she was on Disney Channel. Just Because Lindsay made one freakin movie on Disney Channel. It doesn't mean they've to put Hilary Duff & Lindsay Lohan together being so similar to each other at all what's so ever. And Also, i top of it all, Lindsay was not a real team of Disney Channel at all. She only made one movie on Disney Channel and that's it for her being part of DC all together. Yeah, Yeah... I know Hilary & Lindsay started in the year with their young movies of Casper Meets Wendy-(Hilary/1998) and The Parent Trap-(Lindsay/1998) But actually, Casper Meets Wendy does't actually count be say for Hilary Duff and Lizzie McGuire does in 2001. So, What Ever People? Mrs. Duff is nothing like/similar to Lindsay Lohan what so ever. I don't care what you people say at all! She's not. I never seen her close to that jerk of Mrs. Lindsay at all what so ever since day one. I always see Hilary more like/similar The Olsen Twins than that jerk bag.
Go... Hilary Duff! Keep up the good work of yourself being way better than Lindsay Lohan. And Again, I hope you make this Version of Beverly Hills, 90210. I really do, I really do indeed!moreless
Hilary more beautiful
Rubber_Face i hope you're taking medication for that condition.
Cool. Hilary Duff! I hope you do make this Remake of the Beverly Hills, 90210 for sure. Everyone in the whole wide world kind stop putting you up to Lindsay Lohan and Briteny Spears all together at once. And, I am not these people who are putting you up to "Lindsay Lohan and Briteny Spears" at all what so ever? Well Hilary, I think you're a totally different person to "Mrs. Lindsay and Mrs. Britney" very much here. You're more like The Olsen Twins-("Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen") than Mrs. Lindsay and Mrs. Britney. Well, tell you the truth! Hilary, you've been like "The Olsen Twins" since day one from the start of "Lizzie McGuire" in 2001. Those are one of the reasons i like/love you so much as Singer/Actress all together.
Go... Hilary Duff! Keep up the good work of yourself being way better than Lindsay Lohan. And Again, I hope you make this Version of Beverly Hills, 90210. I really do, I really do indeed!moreless
Cool ! Hillarry Duff on 90210 this I have to see.
god i hope it does not come back again... never like the show when it came out the first time.
it's nice to see the networks trying to make more non-reality TV.
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I'll definitely watch this ;)
i love how they add all the not-so-important people and developments in one sentence at the end...lol...
ANOTHER "Re-Image"!?!? Dear god!! Would somebody PLEASE come up with something original!!!!
I'd probably tune into 90210 if Duff was on it. She's smoking hot, and as we all know, these types of teen soaps need alot of hot young/older women AND men to make these shows work. usually.
please don't disgrace Brenda Walsh by putting that bubbly bimbo on 90210!
love nathen
Hopefully this will be as good a part for Fillion as his character in Firefly was. I can't wait for new Burn Notice episodes. Psych is always great. Cybil should be a good addition!
Well hopefully Nathan will get the hit that he deserves!
I love Hilary Duff:D
i love rebecca on Betty sad to see her part cut shorter she was a great villain the first season
That's neat that Duff might be in the show. She needs something to do, cuz I don't think her last CD went really well. It'd be awesome to see her on television again.Castle sounds like it could be pretty good.
Ah no i liked Nathan on DH but Dana may not be leaving since she and his character are split up. yay for Hill and sad for Rebecca not being on Ugly Betty anymore.
Hilary to be on the 90210 new class or what ever they are calling cool. She is a pretty good actress haven't seen a movie with her haven't liked. Go Hil!!
So I guess that means Nathan will not be on Desperate Houwives for much longer. Guessing that means Dana Delaney is also probably leaving. And wonderful news for Tricia Helfer & even better news for Burn Notice. I loved the 1st season of that show. Now with Gabrielle Anwar and Tricia, this should be interesing.