Apple has finished filling up the cast of its upcoming thriller series “Are You Sleeping” with big names like Aaron Paul and “This Is Us” star Ron Cephas Jones, an individual with knowledge of the casting tells TheWrap.
Elizabeth Perkins (“Weeds), Mekhi Phifer (“ER,” “8 Mile”), Tracie Thoms (“Rent,” “UnReal”), Michael Beach (“Aquaman”) and Haneefah Wood (“Baskets,” “One Day at a Time”) have also been added to the line-up of the tech giant’s new project — one of several they are doing in collaboration with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner. The two previously announced leads are Octavia Spencer and Lizzy Caplan.
“Are You Sleeping” is created and written by Nichelle Tramble Spellman (who will serve as showrunner) and based on the true-crime novel by Kathleen Barber, which focuses on America’s obsession with true-crime podcasts.
Spencer stars as Poppy Parnell, a relentless investigative reporter who looks to uncover the truth behind a decades-old questionable murder verdict through her new podcast. Paul plays convicted murderer Warren Cave whose guilt or innocence has remained a question in many people’s minds for the past 20 years. Jones is in as Leander “Shreve” Scoville, Poppy’s father. Caplan plays twin sisters Josie and Lanie, whose lives have taken very different paths.
Perkins plays Melanie Cave – mother of Cave and the subject of Poppy’s podcast. Phifer is Markus Knox, a former detective and longtime friend of Parnell. Beach plays Ingram Rhoades, a successful attorney and Poppy’s husband. Thoms is Desiree Scoville, Poppy’s older opinionated sister. Wood plays Cydie Scoville, Poppy’s fiercely loyal sister.
The series is executive produced by Spencer under her Orit Entertainment banner, Tramble Spellman, Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine partner Lauren Neustadter, as well as Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kristen Campo for Chernin Entertainment. The premiere episode will be directed by Anna Foerster (“Outlander”).
“Are You Sleeping” is one of three series Apple has ordered from Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, including the actress’ morning show drama with Jennifer Aniston and the Kristen Wiig-led comedy, “You Think It, I’ll Say It.”