Roundup: Sci-Fi Central Casting

Touch—Season 2 of Touch, which Fox had original slated for a debut at the end of October but has since pushed back to a February 1 debut, has added a couple of interesting names in recurring roles. Frances Fisher, who played an unsympathetic managerial interloper on Eureka, will play Nicole Farington, the ultra-organized head of Astor Corps. And Mykelti Williamson (Boomtown, Kidnapped) will play LAPD Detective Lang who has seen it all and possesses a keen sense for the truth.

Da Vinci's Demons—A familiar name is being added behind the scenes at this historical fantasy: the series, being produced by Starz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide, has signed composer Bear McCreary to be the musical composer. McCreary gained a lot of attention for his atmospheric work on Battlestar Galactica, and after following that turn with work on Eureka, Daybreak, The Cape, Human Target, and several other series and films has recently been working on The Walking Dead and the upcoming Syfy series Defiance. The 8-episode first season of Da Vinci's Demons, starring Tom Riley, is set to premiere on Starz in the U.S. next spring.

S.H.I.E.L.D.—Joss Whedon's Avengers-universe pilot for ABC has added The Fades star Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz, a techno wizard. Elizabeth Henstridge has also been cast, playing science guru Agent Gemma Simmons. The only thing that would make me happier than seeing De Caestecker again is another season of The Fades, but this will have to do.

True Blood—The bayou fantasy is getting a new regular. For the sixth season, British actor Rob Kazinsky (who spent a few years on EastEnders, and who was the initial casting for Fili before he had to drop out) is joining the cast as Ben, a charismatic faerie who takes an interest in Sookie and she returns the feelings. True Blood returns next June on HBO.

Tags: Touch, Da Vinci's Demons, S.H.I.E.L.D., True Blood Follow me on Twitter  |  Follow me on Facebook