Donald Glover’s FX Pilot Atlanta Casts Leads, Begins Production!

Donald Glover

Donald Glover’s FX pilot, Atlanta, begins production this month after having cast its leads.

The series stars Glover – who wrote the pilot – as Earnest ‘Earn Marks, who once left Atlanta but returned, dreams gone, to work an unglamorous job to get by. When his cousin Alfred becomes the city’s new top rapper, he sees a chance to get back in the game by becoming Alfred’s manager.

Brian Tyree Henry will play Alfred Miles; Lakeith Lee Stanfield will play Darius – Alfred’s musical collaborator and right-hand man, and Zazie Beetz will play the pragmatic Van – whose relationship with Earn is complicated because of their daughter.

The pilot is being directed by Hiro Murai – who is best known for directing videos for Glover’s Childish Gambino: Sober, Chet Faker: Gold and Earl Sweatshirt: Chum.

For further details, follow the jump.

DONALD GLOVER PILOT ATLANTA CASTS ITS LEADS AS PRODUCTION GETS UNDERWAY

Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Lee Stanfield and Zazie Beetz Join Glover Starring In the Comedy Pilot for FX Networks

Hiro Murai Will Direct The Pilot, Written by Glover, Executive Produced by Glover, Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle, and Produced by FX Productions

LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2015 – 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 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 Atlanta, 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. Glover is represented by Greg Cavic at UTA, Lev Ginsburg of Ginsburg Daniels LLP, and Dianne McGunigle at MGMT Entertainment.

Brian Tyree Henry

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. Brian is represented by Paul Hilepo of Hartig-Hilepo Agency and Jennifer Wiley-Stockton of JWS Entertainment.

Lakeith Lee Stanfield 048 January 2015

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. Stanfield is represented by Jennifer Patredis at Innovative, Colin Stark, and Lev Ginsburg of Ginsburg Daniels LLP.

Zazie Beetz

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. Beetz is represented by Gersh.

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….

ABOUT FX NETWORKS

FX Networks, a business unit of 21st Century Fox, is comprised of the networks FX, FXX and FXM and the video on-demand app FXNOW. FX, the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel, launched in June of 1994 and is carried in 94 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically-acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including The Americans, Tyrant, The Strain and the upcoming The Bastard Executioner and Taboo; the critically-acclaimed limited series American Horror Story, Fargo and the upcoming limited series American Crime Story; acclaimed hit comedy series including the award-winning Louie, Archer, Married, The Comedians and the upcoming Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and Baskets. FX’s roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, In Living Color and Mike & Molly. FXM (formerly Fox Movie Channel) was launched in October of 1994 and is now carried in more than 52 million homes. Its schedule features classic films during the day (FXM Retro), and contemporary box office hits and acclaimed, award-winning films in the evening, as well as short-form award-winning original programming. FXX, the newest network, launched in September 2013 and is carried in more than 78 million homes.  Geared towards a young adult audience, the schedule features original series, movies, and acquired series. The channel is anchored by the acclaimed hit comedies It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, You’re the Worst, Man Seeking Woman and the upcoming The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (TBD). FXX is also the exclusive cable home to The Simpsons, the longest-running comedy in TV history, and the late night animated block Animation Domination.

ABOUT FX PRODUCTIONS

FX Productions (FXP) produces FX’s acclaimed hit drama series The Strain; the comedy series Louie, Archer, Married and the upcoming Baskets, and the FXX comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, You’re the Worst, Man Seeking Woman and the upcoming comedy The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (TBD). FXP co-produces the drama series The Americans, Tyrant and the upcoming The Bastard Executioner and Taboo; the miniseries Fargo, which scored 18 Emmy® Award nominations and won the Emmy award for Outstanding Miniseries; the upcoming miniseries American Crime Story; and the comedies The Comedians and Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. In 2014, FXP shows combined to deliver 28 Emmy Award nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Miniseries, and Outstanding Animated Program.

Photos courtesy of FX