William Hurt Cast As Lead In ‘Humans’; Jes Macallan Joins ‘Red Band Society’

William Hurt (A History Of Violence, Damages) is set for a lead role in Humans, the upcoming AMC/Channel 4 eight-episode sci-fi drama series. An adaptation of the Swedish series Real Humans, the drama, produced by Shine’s Kudos, is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a ‘Synth’ — a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban couple, Laura (Katharine Parkinson) and Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill), purchase a refurbished synth (Gemma Chan) only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences. Hurt will play George Millican, a widower who has formed a close relationship with his out-of-date synth Odi, who he treats more like a son than a piece of machinery.

Jes Macallan has been cast in an arc on Fox’s coming-of age-drama series Red Band Society, from ABC Studios and Amblin TV. Written/exec produced by Margaret Nagle and based on a Spanish format, Red Band Society revolves around teenagers who are long-term hospital patients. Macallan, repped by UTA, Luber Roklin and attorney Lev Ginsburg, will play Ashley Cole, Hunter’s (Daren Kagasoff) sister.