Hulu miniseries “11.22.63” has tapped “The Last King of Scotland” director Kevin MacDonald to direct the first two hours of the nine-part miniseries, and filled a number of key roles.
James Franco will star as high school English teacher Jake Epping, who travels back in time to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Jr. But his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, a new love and the past itself … which doesn’t want to be changed.
Kennedy assassinator Oswald will be played by Australian soap opera “Home and Away” actor Daniel Webber. Oswald is described as one of the most discussed figures in American history and an enigma even to himself.
Several other roles have been filled, as well. “August: Osage County actor Chris Cooper will play Al Templeton, the irascible owner of Al’s diner and a mentor/friend to Jake. His appeal to save Kennedy sends Jake on his incredible mission.
Cherry Jones has been cast as Marguerite Oswald — Lee Harvey Oswald’s mother, who is as needy and difficult as her infamous son — and George MacKay is set to play Bill Turcotte, a young, guileless bartender from 1960s Kentucky, who becomes Jake’s ally.
Lucy Fry will play Marina Oswald, Lee Harvey Oswald’s Russian wife, who’s a knockout and challenged to make her way in a foreign country with her unpredictable husband. And Leon Rippy is set to play Harry Dunning, a kind, but damaged janitor at Jake’s school in 2015 whose traumatic early life in the 1960’s has a surprising impact on Jake.
As TheWrap previously reported, “Cosmopolis” and “Map to the Stars” actress Sarah Gadon will play Sadie Dunhill — a sharp librarian who falls in love with Jake in 1960s Jodie, Texas, while unaware of his double life.
The series, based on the 2011 best-selling novel by Stephen King, hails from J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot Productions, King, Warner Bros. Television.
Bridget Carpenter (“The Red Road,” “Friday Night Lights”) will write and executive produce the series, which Franco is also producing.