Alexander Skarsgard Set to Play Randal Flagg in Stephen King's THE STAND Series
Some more casting news has surfaced for the upcoming 10-episode series adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand. According to Collider, Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) has been perfectly cast in the villainous role of Randall Flagg!
Flagg is described by King:
“He looks like anybody you see on the street. But when he grins, birds fall dead off telephone lines…the grass yellows up and dies where he spits. He’s always outside. He came out of time…He has the name of a thousand demons. Jesus knocked him into a herd of pigs once. His name is Legion. He’s afraid of us…He knows magic. He can call the wolves and live in the crows…He’s the king of nowhere.”
This is such a great role for Skarsgard to take on, and I’m excited to see how he will end up bringing the character to life. He joins the previously cast James Marsden, Amber Heard, Odessa Young, Henry Zaga, Whoopi Goldberg, Jovan Adepo (When They See Us), Owen Teague (Mrs. Fletcher), Brad William Henke (Orange is the New Black), and Daniel Sunjata (Rescue Me).
The Stand tells the story of good vs. evil after a virus wipes out most of the American population. While it features dozens of characters and overlapping storylines running over many years, the struggle boils down to a group of survivors fighting the Antichrist-like character named Randall Flagg, who is a recurring character in King’s stories.
Whoppi Goldberg will be taking on the role of Mother Abagail, a 108-year-old prophet “who receives visions from God and guides survivors of the superflu.”
Jovan Adepo will play Larry Underwood, “a young musician with a taste for fame, as well as illegal substances. When the plague hits, he is forced to confront his demons as he makes his way to the new world.”
Owen Teague will take on the role of Harold Lauder. “After the superflu ravages his town, Harold goes in search of others with fellow survivor Frannie Goldsmith. While his intentions are good, jealousy and his infatuation with Frannie threaten to lead him down a dark path.”
Brad William Henke will portray Tom Cullen, “Nick Andros’ traveling companion who is developmentally disabled due to a terrible fall as a child. A sweet soul, he will be instrumental in their fight for survival.”
Daniel Sunjata will play Cobb, “a member of the military tasked with supervising Stu Redman as the government searches for a cure during the outbreak of the superflu.”
James Marsden (Westworld) will play Stu Redman, a Texan who is the first man discovered to be immune to the Captain Trips virus that has ravaged the planet. He eventually becomes a leader in a community known as the Free Zone, and is tasked with confronting the evil Randall Flagg.”
Amber Heard (Aquaman) will play Nadine Cross, “a private school teacher and virgin who believes she has a unique destiny to be by Flagg’s side.”
Odessa Young (Assassination Nation) will play Frannie Goldsmith, “a pregnant woman who leaves her devastated community with a man named Harold Lauder, but ends up falling in love with Stu, much to Harold’s chagrin.”
Henry Zaga (The New Mutants) will play Nick Andros, “a young, deaf-mute grifter who wears an eye patch for most of King’s book.”
The series is being produced by CBS Television Studios and Josh Boone and Ben Cavell are writing and executive producing the series. Boone will also direct. It was also announced that Stephen King will write the last chapter of the series that will give the story a new ending.
What do you all think about Alexander Skarsgard taking on the role of Randal Flagg? Oh, and in case you didn’t know, Alexander’s brother is Bill Skarsgard, who plays Pennywise the Clown in the It movies.