'Breaking Bad's' Dean Norris to Star in CBS' 'Under the Dome'

12:00 PM PST 2/14/2013 by Lesley Goldberg

8
140
9
0
1
Email
Print
Comments

He'll play a councilman in the summer drama based on the book by Stephen King.

Dean Norris

CBS' Under the Dome has found its star.

CBS' 'Under the Dome' Enlists 'Pan Am's' Mike Vogel

CBS, Amazon Make Deal to Stream 'Under the Dome'

'Under the Dome' Adds 'True Blood' Alum

Breaking Bad's Dean Norris has been tapped to play the lead role in the network's sci-fi drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Based on the book by Stephen King, the summer series follows residents in the community of Chester's Mill as they deal with the postapocalyptic conditions that ensue when a strange dome mysteriously encapsulates the town.

STORY: CBS Orders Stephen King's 'Under the Dome' Straight to Series for Summer 2013

Norris will play Big Jim, the successful owner of Chester's Mill's used car dealership and a town councilman who takes his position seriously.

CBS Television Studios will produce the drama, which was picked up straight to series, in association with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television. Neal Baer (A Gifted Man, Law & Order: SVU), King, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Stacey Snider and comic scribe Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Lost) -- who penned the Under the Dome television adaptation -- will serve as executive producers. Director Niels Arden Oplev (Unforgettable, Sweden's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) will direct the first episode.

Norris joins a cast that includes Pan Am's Mike Vogel, True Blood's Aisha Hinds, Secret Circle's Britt Robertson, CSI: NY's Natalie Martinez, Jolene Purdy, Nicholas Strong, Alex Koch and Colin Ford.

Norris, who plays Walter White's brother-in-law on Breaking Bad, is repped by Industry Entertainment. He becomes the latest Breaking Bad castmember to book his follow-up to the AMC drama, which will wrap its run after a final eight episodes that will begin airing in the summer. Anna Gunn is heading to Bravo's drama pilot Rita, Betsy Brandt will co-star in Michael J. Fox's NBC comedy, Jonathan Banks will play a villain in NBC's Bloodline, and Matt Jones joined CBS' Chuck Lorre comedy Mom.