Michael Sheen To Star In Serial-Killer Pilot ‘Prodigal Son’ From Greg Berlanti
Well this pilot certainly sounds interesting! Michael Sheen will be playing a serial-killer in a new Fox pilot titled ‘Prodigal Son’ from You/Riverdale/Arrowverse producer Greg Berlanti.
‘Prodigal Son’ centres on Malcolm Bright, a criminal psychologist who has the “gift” of knowing how serial-killers think. That’s because he has studied one up close – His own father, known as the notorious serial killer “The Surgeon.” Bright uses talents to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son and his own constantly evolving neuroses.
Sheen takes the role of Martin Whitly, aka “The Surgeon.” Once was a devoted family man and successful cardiothoracic surgeon with high-profile patients, he is now in prison for murdering more than 20 people. Whitly is intelligent, wealthy, and charismatic, but also happens to be a predatory sociopath.
Michael Sheen is, of course, the star of movies such as ‘Frost/Nixon’ the ‘Underworld’ films, and ‘The Queen’, along with tv series such as ‘Masters Of Sex’, and the much-anticipated ‘Good Omens’. He joins the previously announced cast of Lou Diamond Phillips (‘Longmire’, ‘Stargate Universe’), Aurora Perrineau (‘Chasing Life’, ‘Into the Dark’) and Frank Harts (‘The Path’, ‘Billions’).
Philips stars as Gil, a tough, old-school, NYPD detective who brings Bright onto the force to help stop a copycat killer. The duo develop a pseudo father-son relationship, something I suspect Bright didn’t have with his real dad. Perrineau plays Dani, a courageous and experienced NYPD detective and former addict who initially doesn’t trust Bright, but he grows on her. Harts portrays JT, another detective who finds Bright’s forensic profiler eccentricities a little baffling.
‘Prodigal Son’ is written by Chris Fedak (‘Legends of Tomorrow’, ‘Deception’) and Sam Sklaver (‘Deception’) who exec produce with Greg Berlanti via Berlanti Productions. The drama is a co-production between WBTV and Fox. As it is only a pilot it may not go to series, but we’ll let you know if and when we hear more.
