The FX Networks comedy pilot “Atlanta” has cast its lead actors as production gets underway this month, it was announced today by Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, the Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Lee Stanfield and Zazie Beetz will star in the pilot along with Donald Glover, who created and wrote the pilot.
Hiro Murai will direct the pilot, which will be produced by FX Productions and begin shooting in Atlanta at the end of July. Glover serves as Executive Producer of the pilot along with Paul Simms (“Girls,” “Flight of the Conchords,” “NewsRadio”), and Dianne McGunigle of MGMT Entertainment.
“Atlanta” revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy.
Donald Glover will play Earnest ‘Earn’ Marks, a loner who left Atlanta only to return; now working an unglamorous job and barely getting by. When his cousin Alfred becomes Atlanta’s hot rapper, Earn sees an opportunity to manage Alfred’s career. Glover is an award-winning actor and writer best known for playing Troy on the Yahoo! (formerly NBC) sitcom “Community.” As a writer on NBC’s “30 Rock,” Glover received a WGA Award for best Comedy Series in 2008, 2009 and 2010. As the musical artist Childish Gambino, Glover has received two Grammy Award nominations.
Brian Tyree Henry will play Alfred Miles, Atlanta’s hot of the moment rapper who plans to capitalize on the sudden fame as quickly as possible. Henry is currently recurring on HBO’s “Vice Principals.” He is best known for his appearances in the feature film Puerto Ricans in Paris, and TV’s “The Knick,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “My America,” “The Good Wife” and “Law & Order.” Brian’s numerous theatre credits include the origination of the role of General in Broadway’s “Book of Mormon.”
Lakeith Lee Stanfield will play Darius, Alfred’s oddly talented right-hand man and musical collaborator. Stanfield has appeared in numerous feature films, including Dope, Selma and Short Term 12, and will next be seen in the features Snowden, Straight Outta Compton and Miles Ahead, among several others. He is also a member of the hip hop group Moors.
Zazie Beetz will play Van, a pragmatist caught up in a complicated relationship with Earn (Donald Glover) due to their daughter. Beetz has appeared in the feature film Applesauce and the short films Beasts and The Crocotta. She will next appear in the feature Finding Her and is currently shooting Wolves for writer/director Bart Freundlich.
Hiro Murai, who will direct the pilot, is an accomplished music video director, including the videos for Glover’s “Childish Gambino: Sober,” “Chet Faker: Gold and Earl Sweatshirt: Chum.” He has also served as a cinematographer on the television series “Drunk History” and “Funny or Die Presents….”
