Ivana Baquero Joins MTV’s ‘Shannara’; Lil Rel In NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Go Jerrod Go’

Pan’s Labyrinth star Ivana Baquero has been cast opposite Poppy Drayton and Austin Butler in Shannara, MTV’s 10-episode straight-to-series drama based on Terry Brooks’ massive fantasy book series. Written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar, Shannara is set in our world, thousands of years after the destruction of our civilization. The story centers on the Shannara family, whose descendants are empowered with ancient magic and whose adventures continuously reshape the future of the world. Baquero, repped by Gersh and Think Tank Management, will play Eretria, a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who’s been forced to use her beauty and wits to survive. She’s a human who has been raised in a den of thieves known as the Rovers. When she rescues Wil from danger she becomes unwittingly tied to he and Amberle’s (Drayton) quest to save the Four Lands. Baquero can currently be seen in Spanish film El Club de los Incomprendidos and recently wrapped Gelo, a Portuguese fantasy love story. She will next be seen in Fox International’s My Other Me.

Actor and stand-up comedian Lil Rel (Friends Of The People) has landed a series regular role in Go Jerrod Go, NBC’s comedy pilot starring Jerrod Carmichael and written by Carmichael and Nick Stoller. Described as an irreverent multi-camera comedy inspired by Carmichael’s stand-up and his relationships with his girlfriend and family, the project follows a young couple, Jerrod (Carmichael) and Maxine (Amber West), who decide to move in together. But when it comes time to tell Jerrod’s parents, Jerrod finds every reason in the world to hold off on breaking the news to his mom (Loretta Devine) and dad (David Alan Grier). Lil Rel, repped by APA, 3 Arts and Cohen & Gardner, will play Jerrod’s loveable but ne’re-do-well brother Bobby, whose crazy money-making schemes never pan out. His other recent credits include  BET’s Comic View, Fox’s animated series Lucas Bros. Moving Co., and Comedy Central’s Comedy Underground With Dave Attell, and The Half Hour.