‘Naomi’: Kaci Walfall Lands Lead Role In CW’s New DC Comics Pilot
The CW’s latest potential superhero drama has found its title character, as Kaci Walfall lands the leading role of ‘Naomi’. Also announced as joining the cast in series regular roles are Alexander Wraith, Cranston Johnson and newcomer Camila Moreno.
‘Naomi’ is based on the DC Comic co-written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, illustrated by Jamal Campbell which debuted in 2019. The story follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.
Kaci Walfall takes the title role of Naomi, the adopted daughter of doting parents, she’s an effortlessly cool and confident high school student. Popular with all the kids in her military town, Naomi is unafraid to embrace her AP-student, comic book-loving nerdiness. The aforementioned supernatural event leads her to discover tap into previously unknown powers and pursues her hidden destiny.
Walfall might not be that well known to UK audiences, but she has been acting since the age of 9 when she landed the role of Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, before moving at the age of 11 to the role of Lavender in the First National Tour of Matilda. On TV, she has had a recurring role on Lifetime series ‘Army Wives’, and has popped up in shows such as ‘Person of Interest’ and ‘Power’.
Alexander Wraith is set to play Dee, the owner of a local tattoo parlour. When the supernatural event hits, Dee hints that he knows more than he is willing to tell… Wraith played Agent Anderson in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, Vasily Reznikov in ‘Orange Is the New Black’, and Aleki in ‘Hawaii Five-0’. He’s also popped up in ‘The Mandalorian’, ‘Westworld’ and ‘Graceland’.
Cranston Johnson takes the role of Zumbado, the mysterious owner of a local used car lot. Having heard troubling rumours about his past, Naomi actively tries to avoid him, but a tense encounter leaves her both shaken and curious. Johnson is probably best known for his roles as Detective Hanson in ‘Hap and Leonard‘ and Frank Fletcher in ‘Wu Assassins’. He’s also appeared in the series ‘P-Valley’, and can soon be seen in the UK on Disney+/STAR in the short-lived Fox series ‘Filthy Rich’.
Camila Moreno plays Lourdes, a young woman with a sarcastic sense of humour who works in a vintage collectables shop. She has an unrequited crush on Naomi, and she shares her obsession with classic comics. She is also happy to join in on Naomi’s schemes. Moreno graduated from the Drama Department of the University of Puerto Rico in 2016, before completed an MFA in acting at NYU. This will be her first major tv role, should the drama go to series.
The pilot comes from writer/director Ava DuVernay (‘When They See Us’, ‘Selma’) and writer Jill Blankenship (‘Arrow’, ‘The Last Ship’), who will exec produce alongside Sarah Bremner and Paul Garnes. The project will be produced by DuVernay’s Array Filmworks in association with Warner Bros Television.
‘Naomi’ is currently only a pilot, so may or may not go to series, but we’ll let you know if and when we hear more.
