
Fantastic Four alum Ioan Gruffudd is set to star opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in the CBS drama pilot Ringer. The project centers on troubled young woman Bridget (Gellar) who, while on the run from the mob, hides out by inhabiting the life of her rich twin sister, Siobhan, until she learns that her twin’s life has a bounty on it as well. Gruffudd will play Siobhan’s wealthy, well-traveled and cultured husband Andrew who senses something different about his wife. Also cast in Ringer is Mike Colter as Bridget’s AA sponsor, joining previously cast Nestor Carbonell. Welsh-born Gruffudd, repped by WME and the Collective, is best known for his role as Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four franchise. Colter has done an arc on CBS’ The Good Wife.

British actor Christian Cooke and Steven Strait (Stop-Loss) are in final negotiations for co-starring roles opposite Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Starz’s upcoming 10-episode drama series Magic City. Set in Miami in the late 1950s-early 1960s, Magic City chronicles the collision of mobsters, politicians and entertainers at the first preeminent Miami hotel just as Fidel Castro takes control of Cuba and shuts down Havana as a gambling haven. It centers on Ike (Morgan), a suave Jewish-American man who builds the hotel and along the way makes some strange bedfellows and many powerful enemies. Strait will play Stevie, Ike’s oldest son, a high-living hedonist. Cooke will play Ike’s youngest son, a sweet young man who is attending law school while helping his dad.
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Ioan is a star!!
Ioan – what a lame choice… this guy has nothing better going… I thought when they “offer” out roles – its supposed to go to a name… can’t think of a movie this guy starred in out side of the worst two comic book ever made!!!
So much for what you know “bill”!
Ioan is a graduate from none other than the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, arguably the most esteemed acting and theatre school in the world.
He starred in Amazing Grace, and that was a great movie.
Ioan Gruffudd is a terrific actor. He played Sir Lancelot in the film “King Arthur”, “Amazing Grace”, The new movie “Sanctum”, “Wilde”, “The Secret Of Moonacre” and many more. Give the man a chance. He also starred in the tv mini series “Horacio Hornblower”. Wonderful acting.
Ioan Gruffud played Pip ( on masterpiece theatre, and Horatio Hornblower on A and E, winning ememys. He is a wonderful actor with alot of passion and intensity. Playing in the fantastic 4 movies I thought was beneath him!
Magic City sounds interesting, but Ringers? Not so much. Especially if it’s supposed to be a weekly series. It just doesn’t sound sustainable for even a single season, nevermind more.
Yeah, I don’t know how long you can stretch that conceit out for.
SMG turns 34 in April — hardly a young woman. I love Ioan’s work, but this plot sounds craptacular. Must have been green-lit by Lady Gaga’s egg layer.
Loved Mike Colter in Million Dollar Baby and enjoying him on Good Wife. Good for him!
Perhaps some people Gruffud with the Fantastic Four role, but before that, he was Horatio Hornblower in the series make in the UK by ITV. I’m sure the success in that role led to roles such as Reed Richards, but anyone who judges his acting by that role will always underestimate him.
I look forward to seeing him in this–hope Sarah Michelle Geller has recovered from her Scooby Doo roles.
Yeah I was gonna say I cringe when anybody brings up Fantastic Four films as his “best known as.” For me it’s always been Hornblower. His acting should be judged by those miniseries, not the FF mess.
By “cultured” I assume it’s code for his getting to maybe play the part as a Brit? His American accent’s passable (or was unless he’s worked on it), but his English one’s pretty nice.
Magic City is gonna make Starz pop.
Or make it pop even more.They’re currently airing Spartacus:Gods of the Arena, which I’m really enjoying.Then there’s Camelot, Torchwood:Miracle Day, Magic City and the second season of Blood and Sand.I’m liking everything Starz is putting out.
he’s a fine actor, she’s been in the post buffy chrysalis for some time.. but this premise?
really? It sounds like a bad, non culturally transferable episode of the colbys no?
Man, I wish they’d make more Hornblower films. Those were great.
Christian Cooke is such a bland actor and is single-handedly ruining The Promise. Someone please stop his rise.
Hater much???
Christian is a very promising young actor and is shining in ‘The Promise’. He has a great team behind him and is making good choices. No decline in site for this one.
No more HH movies, because they cost too much to make.
As much as I like Ioan in HH, I loved him in Amazing Grace.
It’s too bad most people seem to judge him by Fantastic Four.
I’m actually excited to see SMG back on TV. Her other roles were OK, but not her best. I think she still has untapped potential somewhere hidden in that small frame lol. Hopefully she’ll do good with this show. I’ve always thought and hoped that maybe she would guest star in either “How I met your mother” or in “Bones.” I’ve always wondered how she would be in either of those shows.
Ioan also is a fine actor. Hopefully this show will just emphasize that more.