Just days after it was announced that Iron Fist star Finn Jones would be playing the lead in the crime drama pilot Prodigal Son, TV Line reports that Jones has been ousted from the role and replaced by Tom Payne (The Walking Dead). The decision was made after the cast gathered for an initial table read.
Prodigal Son centers on a criminal psychologist named Malcolm Bright (Payne), who knows how killers think because his father, Martin Whitly (Michael Sheen) is a notorious serial killer known as “The Surgeon.” Malcolm will use his twisted genius and razor-sharp instincts as a forensic profiler to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother (Bellamy Young), annoyingly normal sister, and a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son and his own constantly evolving neuroses.
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Sheen is set to play the father, Martin Whitly, who was once a devoted family man and a successful cardiothoracic surgeon with high-profile patients. He’s also a predatory sociopath who’s in prison for murdering more than 20 people.
Lou Diamond Phillips, Aurora Perrineau, and Frank Harts are also currently attached to star.
Chris Fedak (Chuck) and Sam Sklaver (Deception) wrote the pilot and are executive producing alongside Berlanti Productions’ Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter as well as director Lee Toland Krieger. Fox Entertainment is a co-producer. Berlanti’s other pilots this season include The CW’s Batwoman and Katy Keene.
