The BBC and HBO have announced the cast for the upcoming miniseries adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy. Leading the cast is Michael Gambon (Harry Potter) as Howard Mollison, as well as Keeley Hawes (Line of Duty, Ashes To Ashes), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall, Penny Dreadful), Monica Dolan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa), Julia McKenzie (Notes on a Scandal), and newcomer Abigail Lawrie.
The story focuses on a local election in Pagford after a sudden death.
Additional cast members include Rufus Jones (Bill, W1A), Keeley Forsyth (Coronation Street, Emmerdale), Simon McBurney (Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, Last King of Scotland), Richard Glover (A Field in England, Sightseers), Marie Critchley (In The Flesh, Emmerdale), and Michelle Austin (Secrets & Lies, Another Year). Casting will follow for The Casual Vacancy’s other characters, including Parminder, Vikram and Sukhvinder Jawanda, Gaia Bawden, Mary Fairbrother, Maureen Lowe, Lexie and Libbie Millison, and Andrew and Paul Price.
The three-part miniseries, which will begin filming in July, will be directed by Jonny Campbell (BAFTA winner In the Flesh, Eric & Ernie). A release date has not been announced.
