Javier Bardem has signed on to star in “The Spread,” a new HBO drama that will take viewers inside Miami’s high-powered world of extreme wealth, market ambition and ruthless competition.
Matthew Vaughn, whose credits include “X-Men: First Class,” will direct the series. He and Bardem will also serve as executive producers.
HBO’s official description presents Miami as an emerging “Wall Street South,” where industry leaders and elite hedge funds collide with vast fortunes, sex, nightlife and large-scale excess.
The story introduces a visionary billionaire who gathers a group of brilliant, ambitious and dangerous figures before unleashing them on the markets that power America. His larger goal is to shift the country’s economic center of gravity toward Miami — while retaining the ability to determine how long the city’s party continues.
The series adds another television role to Bardem’s recent credits. Earlier this year, he played vengeance-driven former convict Max Cady in Apple TV’s adaptation of “Cape Fear.” In 2024, he received an Emmy nomination for portraying José Menendez, the father at the center of Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
Bardem is also known for playing the remorseless killer Anton Chigurh in the 2007 film “No Country for Old Men,” a performance that earned him an Oscar.
Taylor Frankie Paul Leaves “Mormon Wives”
Elsewhere in television, Taylor Frankie Paul has announced that she is stepping away from Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” after five seasons.
Paul addressed her decision in an Instagram statement, thanking the networks that supported her and allowed her to return.
“My gratitude goes to all the networks that supported me throughout this and gave me the chance to return,” she wrote. “However I don’t desire to move forward like this.”
Her departure follows the exit of fellow cast member Mikayla Matthews, who left the reality series last week.
Paul had also been set to lead a season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” but that season was scrapped earlier this year following off-camera controversy.
“Elsbeth” Books Three Season 4 Guests
CBS’ “Elsbeth” is expanding its guest roster ahead of Season 4, which premieres Thursday, October 8 at 9 p.m.
Lea Michele, known for “Glee,” will appear as Darcy Miles, a Pilates trainer. “Veep” actor Sam Richardson has been cast as competitive eater Cody Baxter, while “Loot” star Nat Faxon will play golf club member Perry Macintyre.
The three performers join the upcoming season in guest-starring roles, with each character bringing a distinctly different world — fitness, competitive eating and golf club society — into the series.
FX’s “Far Cry” Adds Five Cast Members
FX has also added five actors to its forthcoming adaptation of the video game “Far Cry.”
The new additions are Brendan Gleeson, whose credits include “Spider-Noir”; Jennifer Jason Leigh of “Fargo”; “Widow’s Bay” actor Hamish Linklater; Sam Spruell of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”; and “The Afterparty” star Jamie Demetriou.
No character details for the five newly announced performers were provided, but the casting significantly expands the ensemble for FX’s upcoming game-to-screen project.