Meet the cast of Joss Whedon’s The Nevers!

HBO already has a pretty interesting lineup of sci-fi and fantasy shows on the way — His Dark Materials, Watchmen, the Game of Thrones prequel…but it is not done. There may be a bit of a behind-the-scenes shake-up happening with J.J. Abrams’ Demimonde, but it looks like The Nevers — a show about “about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world” — is moving full speed ahead.

The Nevers comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, the guy behind shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly, not the mention the first two Avengers movies. This is the first time in a while that he’ll be directly involved in a TV show, and he’s going all in, getting credits as executive producer, showrunner, writer and director. Based on the premise, he’s going back to the Buffy well of superpowered women fighting against restrictive gender norms, this time with a period twist.

And now, Entertainment Weekly has pulled the curtain back on a cast of 12 actors! Let’s take a look at them and who they’re playing:

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 01: Laura Donnelly attends The 73rd Annual Tony Awards Meet The Nominees Press Day at Sofitel New York on May 01, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Laura Donnelly as Amalia True

"The most reckless, impulsive, emotionally damaged hero of her time. A menace to stuffy Victorian society, she would die for the cause and kill for a drink."

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 03: Olivia Williams arrives at the premiere of Starz’s “Counterpart” Season 2 at the Arclight Theatre on December 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Olivia Williams as Lavinia Bidlow

"A wealthy spinster and champion of the “Touched,” Lavinia funds the Orphanage (where Amalia and many of the Touched live) through her vast family fortune. She is stern and old-fashioned, but as strong-willed and clever as anyone she confronts."

Williams is a strong actor Whedon worked with on his short-lived sci-fi show Dollhouse. Whatever part he’s written for her, she’ll do a great job with it.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 12: James Norton poses in the Press Room at the Virgin TV BAFTA Television Award at The Royal Festival Hall on May 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

James Norton as Hugo Swann

"A pansexual posh boy whose charm has about five years left on its lease.  He runs a secret club and a side trade in blackmail. He’s devoted to fulfilling everyone’s worst impression of him — and fascinated by the Touched."

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Tom Riley attends the UK film premiere of “Starfish” at The Curzon Mayfair on October 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Tom Riley as Augustus “Augie” Bidlow

A sweet, disarming nerd and Lavinia’s younger brother.  A keen ornithologist, Augie is happy to let his older sister take the reins of the family fortune. He finds the Touched unnerving, but is drawn to them by his increasing infatuation with Miss Adair, and by the schemes of his nefarious best friend, Hugo.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 26: Ann Skelly attends a photocall for ‘Death and Nightingales’ at Soho Hotel on November 26, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

Ann Skelly as Penance Adair

"Amalia’s dearest friend, and one of the first women to join her cause. A devout — yet heretically progressive — Irish girl, Penance has genius for invention. She is delighted by her power, and her default is love and acceptance. But she’s firm in her moral sense, and will be guided by what’s right over what’s expedient every time."

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 20: Actor Ben Chaplin attends the red carpet premiere screening of Amazon original series “Mad Dogs” at Pacific Design Center on January 20, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Amazon Studios)

Ben Chaplin as Detective Frank Mundi

"Big, gruff, and deeply moral, Detective Mundi trusts no one, least of all himself: his reputation for sudden violence (and excessive drink) is not unwarranted. Frank finds himself caught between the powerful, who ignore the laws of the land, and newly empowered, who ignore the laws of physics."

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 14: Actor Pip Torrens attends the premiere of AMC’s “Preacher” Season 3 at The Hearth and Hound on June 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Pip Torrens as Lord Massen

"Staunch, unflappable and merciless in his defense of the British Empire, this former General, now Peer, may be the only man who sees clearly what havoc these few strange people can wreak upon the established order. Which he will protect, one way or another."

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 21: Zackary Momoh attends Universal’s “Pacific Rim Uprising” premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on March 21, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Zackary Momoh as Doctor Horatio Cousens

"One of the few successful West Indian physicians in London.  Married with a young son, Horatio’s fortunes took a dark turn when he met Amalia and discovered his own ability. Now he works with her, and with the Beggar King, those who don’t care who is or isn’t “different.”"

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Amy Manson attends the “Run” screening during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at Village East Cinema on April 26, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

Amy Manson as Maladie

"Committed by her husband (and genuinely unstable), she’s been warped by a power she can’t understand, and tortured by doctors intent on finding its source. She now lives underground, runs a gang and is on an infamous murder spree. She affects a theatrical parody of a bedlam waif, but mad as she is, she’s a woman with a purpose."

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Nick Frost attends the World Premiere of “Cuban Fury” at Vue Leicester Square on February 6, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Nick Frost as Declan Orrun, aka The Beggar King

"Charismatic and brutal, Declan runs — or has a piece of – most of the low-level criminal activity in the city. He’s perfectly happy to help Amalia and her cause — and equally happy to sell them out.  He backs winners, and the Touched are long odds."

There aren’t many big names associated with The Nevers so far, but I definitely remember the likable Frost from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Rochelle Neil as Annie Carbey, aka Bonfire

"Annie is a career criminal who landed the ability to control fire and is happy to hire it out. Came up rough, stayed that way, but she’s neither impulsive nor cruel — just looking out for herself. No matter who she works with or for, Annie trusts only Annie, and the fire."

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Eleanor Tomlinson attends the Charles Finch & Chanel pre-BAFTA’s dinner at Loulou’s on February 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Eleanor Tomlinson as Mary Brighton

"Gentle but surprisingly resilient, Mary pursued her dream of singing on stage. A disappointing career and a broken engagement haven’t diminished her spirit. She’s going to be great. She’s going to be very surprised how."

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Denis O’Hare attends the premiere of Amazon Studio’s “Late Night” at The Orpheum Theatre on May 30, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Denis O’Hare as Dr. Edmund Hague

"A gifted American surgeon, he uses his skills in the coldest, most brutal way possible. But it’s all in the name of progress!"

All that and HBO promises more casting announcements to come! The watchword is “ensemble.” And I get the idea Whedon wrote these punchy descriptions.

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I’m a fan of Buffy and Angel and the like from way back. Whedon has been out of the TV scene for a while. Really, he’s been away from the limelight in general for a while, ever since leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe after being “beaten down” by the process of making Avengers: Age of Ultron. He also came under scrutiny in 2017 when ex-wife Kai Cole accused him of multiple infidelities and for living a life not in keeping with his feminist ideals.

In short, Whedon has a ways to go if he wants to reclaim his position as a cult favorite auteur. There’s no premiere date for The Nevers yet, but it has my attention.

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