Mary Elizabeth Winsteadwill star inBrainDead, a new comedic thriller set in the world of Washington, D.C. politics, to be broadcast in summer 2016. The series comes from Robert King and Michelle King,creators and executive producersofThe Good Wife. The actress is the first cast member to sign on forBrainDead, which was given a straight-to-series order byCBS
Mary Elizabeth Winsteadwill portray Laurel, the daughter of a Democratic political dynasty who left Washington, D.C. to become adocumentaryfilmmaker, but is pulled back into the family business when her brother, the senate majority whip, needs her help running his senate office. Now a young, fresh-faced Hill staffer, Laurel discovers two things: The government has stopped working, andalienspawn have come to Earth and eaten the brains of a growing number of congressmen and Hill staffers. Here’s what Robert King and Michelle King had to say about the casting in a statement.
“We’ve been fans ofMarygoing back toScott Pilgrim Vs. the World, but it was really her extraordinary work inSmashedand Alex of Venice that had us imagining Laurel’s lines coming out of her mouth. She’s fantastic at mixingcomedyand drama, and keeping it all vulnerable, yet real. We can’t wait to see what she does with Laurel.”
Winstead is well-known for her roles in the horror filmsFinal Destination 3,Black Christmas, Death Proof,The ThingandAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Her additional film credits includeScott Pilgrim Vs. the World,Smashedand Alex of Venice. Her television credits include the series The Returned. Coming up, she will appear in the PBS dramaMercy Streetand the films Valencia, withJohn Goodman, andSwiss Army Man, withDaniel RadcliffeandPaul Dano.
This month, Winstead will be on the road for a handful of showcase performances with Got a Girl, a musical duo featuring Winstead and music producerDan the Automator. Formed in 2012, the band’s first studio album, I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now, was released in 2014.BrainDeadis produced by CBS Television Studios. Robert King and Michelle King,Ridley Scott,David Zuckerand Liz Glotzer will serve as executive producers for CBS Television Studios, Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions, all of whom previously collaborated onThe Good Wife. Judy Smith will serve as co-executive producer. The series will be distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and worldwide by CBS Studios International.
