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Anna Gunn is returning to the small screen.
The Breaking Bad actress will be joined by two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver and previously cast David Tennant in Fox’s Broadchurch adaptation, now titled Gracepoint. The eight-part series, which In Treatment’s Dan Futterman and Anya Epstein have been tapped to run, follows the events and investigation that unfold in the sleepy seaside town of Gracepoint after the tragic and mysterious death of a young boy. Though the cause of his death remains unsolved – he was found on an idyllic beach surrounded by rocks and a jutting cliff face — the picturesque town where the tragedy occurred is at the heart of a major police investigation and a nationwide media frenzy.
VIDEO: Drama Actress Roundtable: Anna Gunn, Monica Potter on Shaping Their Characters
Gunn is set to play Detective Ellie Miller, a happily married wife and mother who is looking forward to a promised promotion. When the job goes to an outsider, Detective Emmett Carver (Tennant), Miller is disgruntled — but her disappointment quickly fades in light of the tragedy, and she must work her very first murder case with her prickly new partner. As the case progresses, she’ll have to look at her hometown and those she cares about through a different prism.
For her part, Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) will play Susan Wright, a glowering, mysterious woman who is new in town, lives in the RV park and works various cleaning and odd jobs. She prefers to remain anonymous, and has a dark history that’s being kept fiercely hidden.
Gracepoint is scheduled to begin filming in January for broadcast during the 2014-2015 season. The event series is being produced in partnership with Shine America in association with Kudos and Imaginary Friends. Shine International is distributing internationally. The original series’ creator, Chris Chibnall (Doctor Who), will executive produce and will also pen the premiere episode. Joining Chibnall, Futterman and Epstein as exec producers are Shine America’s Carolyn Bernstein (The Bridge) and Kudos’ Jane Featherstone (The Hour).
The casting news comes just two months after Gunn took home the best supporting actress Emmy for her part as Skyler White in the AMC drama, which wrapped up its six-season run with a best drama win as well as a record series-finale tune-in of 10.3 million viewers. Weaver is still riding high off of her Oscar nomination for her part opposite Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook.
Gunn, whose other credits include Deadwood and The Practice, is repped by UTA and The Schiff Company; Weaver, best known for her roles in Animal Kingdom and Caddie, is repped by ICM Partners, Elevate Entertainment and Felker Toczek.
E-mail: Lacey.Rose@THR.com
Twitter: @LaceyVRose
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