Mike Epps will be the black ‘Uncle Buck’ and Rob Kazinsky to be ‘Frankenstein’
In interesting casting news, Mike Epps has been cast as the title character in ABC’s comedy pilot Uncle Buck, somewhat based on the John Hughes version which starred John Candy. Additionally, Fox has cast True Blood alum Rob Kazinsky the Frankenstein pilot from Rand Ravich and Howard Gordon.
Epps will be joined by Nia Long in “ABC‘s single-camera comedy pilot” from Universal TV and Will Packer Prods, reports Deadline.
“Like the movie, the series adaptation, written by Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley, centers on Buck Russell (Epps), a childish man who learns how to be an adult by taking care of his brother Will’s kids in a very childish way. Long will play Will’s strong-willed and smart wife,” their coverage summarized.
Fox is working from basic Mary Shelley mythology of a man brought back to life by scientists playing god. Frankenstein centers on Ray Pritchard (Kazinsky), a morally corrupt retired cop who is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead.
“The ‘monster’ is athletic, strong and handsome — the reanimated version of a much older Pritchard, a former Marine who was recently murdered. Pritchard’s body may be new, but his mind is still that of a 75-year-old, badass curmudgeon. Adhir Kalyan was cast last month as one of Ray’s creators, the quiet and brilliant Internet billionaire Otto Goodwin,” the site noted.
Kazinsky’s credits include Pacific Rim, True Blood and the UK series EastEnders and Dream Team. He next will be seen in Hot Pursuit, starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, and the video game adaptation Warcraft.
How do you think fans will react to a black version of Uncle Buck and another incarnation of Frankenstein?
