Last month, word broke that Paramount+ was bringing The Man Who Fell To Earth to TV, with Chiwetel Ejiofor playing an alien character similar to the one famously brought to life by David Bowie in director Nicholas Roeg’s 1976 film. However, the series has recently relocated over to Showtime, and two new actors have been added to the cast. Via Deadline, Jimmi Simpson and Naomie Harris will play supporting roles on the show.
Simpson will portray the series’ primary antagonist. His character’s name is Spencer Clay, and he’s a CIA agent who becomes fixated on discovering the alien’s true identity. Unfortunately, his crusade winds up taking a heavy toll on his mental state. Meanwhile, Harris is set to play Justin Falls, a gifted scientist and engineer who “must conquer her own demons in the race to save two worlds.”
Neither of these characters appears in Roeg’s film or Water Tevis’ original 1963 novel that inspired it. This essentially confirms that the modern update is making several changes to its source material. Star Trek: Discovery’s Alex Kurtzman is writing and executive producing the TV series with co-showrunner Jenny Lumet. Kurtzman is also directing a handful of episodes.
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Simpson received an Emmy nomination in 2018 for his role as William in HBO’s Westworld. He also frequently shows up on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Liam McPoyle. Harris has previously played Eve Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise. Later this year, she will appear in Venom: Let There Be Carnage as Shriek.
Showtime hasn’t announced a premiere date for The Man Who Fell To Earth.
Are you excited to see what Simpson and Harris bring to the new series? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: The Man Who Fell To Earth
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