Christian Cooke Joins Starz’s 'Magic City'; Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Final Talks

British actor Christian Cooke has been cast in the Starz period drama Magic City, about the political and criminal machinations of 1960s Miami. And Jeffrey Dean Morgan is in final talks to close a deal to play the lead, according to sources. 

The series — from Miami native Mitch Glazer — is set at the fictitious Miramar Hotel, a stand-in for the famed Fontainebleau, where the hotel’s owner Ike Evans (Morgan) must deal “with the Mob, his complicated family and a city in the midst of dramatic change as Fidel Castro takes control in Cuba,” according to the log line. Cooke will play Danny, one of Evans’ sons.   Magic City begins shooting soon in Miami and is targeted for a 2012 bow. Starz has committed to ten episodes. Glazer has penned numerous big-screen features including Scrooged, Lost in Translation and Great Expectations. He’ll executive produce with Tony To and Media Talent Group CEO Geyer Kosinski.   Morgan is perhaps best known to U.S. television audiences for his recurring roles on Grey’s Anatomy (as a heart transplant patient and Izzie’s love interest) and Supernatural (as the mysterious father of Sam).   Cooke starred last year in the Ricky Gervais-directed Cemetery Junction and the British drama The Promise. He’s repped by Management 360, WME and United Agents in London.