Johnny Ray Gill in “Rectify" Johnny Ray Gill (“True Blood," “Rectify") has joined the cast of CBS’ "BrainDead," a new comic-thriller set in the world of Washington, D.C. politics, to be broadcast on the network in summer 2016.

Gill’s casting comes a few days after Tony Award-winning actress Nikki M. James was cast, both as series regulars; so here’s a new series to keep on your radar for next summer, with, at least, 2 black characters in series regular roles.

The series comes from Robert and Michelle King, creators and executive producers of "The Good Wife."

Gill will play Gustav, who is described as an intuitive, eccentric genius who is the first in D.C. to recognize that there may be alien spawn attacking the Capital.

As previously announced, Nikki M. James will play Rochelle, a medical resident whose father died as the result of a mysterious infection.

Both characters will work with the star of the series, Laurel (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), as accomplices, to uncover what’s behind the apparent alien puzzle, and protect others from it.

Winstead is Laurel, a young, fresh-faced Hill staffer whose first job in Washington, D.C. leads her to discover two things: The government has stopped working, and alien spawn have come to earth and eaten the brains of a growing number of Congressmen and Hill staffers.

Also, Aaron Tveit plays Gareth, the Legislative Director to a top Republican senator, who is smart, hard-working, and ultimately responsible for helping to save the world.

"BrainDead" is produced by CBS Television Studios. Robert and Michelle King, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Brooke Kennedy and Liz Glotzer will serve as executive producers for CBS Television Studios, Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions. Judy Smith will serve as co-executive producer.

The series will be distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and worldwide by CBS Studios International.

Johnny Ray Gill

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