Casting information has been leaked for Marvel’s new small-screen series Inhumans, and classic characters abound.
The Inhumans casting preview comes from a new episode of The Hashtag Show. Though still unconfirmed, the show has been a reliable source of Marvel casting news in the past.
The lineup seeks members of the Inhuman Royal Family of Attilan, though the details are disguised under ordinary human names. The cast will be lead by “Broderick,” a.k.a. Black Bolt, the head of the Royal Family possessed of an earth-shattering voice. His wife Medusa (“Marjorie”), and brothers Maximus (“Marty”) and Karnak (“Kevin”) round out the clan.
In addition to the Royal Family, the Inhumans casting sheet calls for the three-legged horse Gorgon (“Grady”), as well as Medusa’s sister Crystal (“Christine”). The amphibian Triton (“Timothy”), is the final member of the main cast.
The descriptions offer a look at the conflicts that will power the Inhumans series, as well as the visual makeup of the cast.
Broderick: Male, 30-40, Caucasian. Can say volumes with just a look. Strong thoughtful and private, he’s unaccustomed to being questioned or feeling a need to answer to anyone, to an extent can verge on arrogance.
Marjorie: Female, 30-40, Caucasian. An elegant and intelligent advisor to her husband, she struggles to find her place outside of their relationship, as others tend to view her as just a pretty face. Strong and resourceful, she’s not afraid to break the rules when the situation demands it.
Marty: Male, 30-40, Caucasian. Broderick’s younger brother; he is intelligent, charming and articulate. He comes across as a man of the people but secretly covets power.
Kevin: Male, 30-40, Open. Slight of build, his mind is his greatest asset. Always prepared with a plan, his outlook on life is the glass is always half-empty and often cracked and dirty as well. Though his outlook can be grim he has a droll, dry sense of humor.
Grady: Male, 25-35, Open. Impetuous and brash, he has serious impulse control issues which frequently get him into trouble, whether it’s women, booze or fighting. He loves life and lives in the moment, for better or worse.
Christine: Female, 18-25 to play 18, Caucasian. Soulful but still learning the ways of the world, she has the arrogance of youth. Impetuous and independent, she is also deeply devoted to her family.
Timothy: Male, 25-35, Open, SFXMU required. Supremely athletic. The ultimate picture of cool. He’s calm under pressure and willing to do anything to get the job done.
Though the cast seems interesting enough in the complex web of relationships, it’s worth noting that the Inhumans cast is not exactly groundbreaking in terms of representation. The cast, at least at this stage of production, is set to be overwhelmingly white and male.
Out of the main seven members, only Medusa and Crystal are female. The ethnicities of Karnak, Gorgon, and Triton are listed as “open,” as opposed to Caucasian and we certainly hope that those characters will contribute diversity to the cast. The impact of Triton’s casting may be debatable however, as the casting sheet indicates that the actor will be buried under layers of special effects makeup.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has fielded an increasingly diverse cast over the course of its run, and the Netflix series have also been strong examples of representation. Hopefully, Marvel and ABC will be able to continue that trend in this new series.
Marvel’s Inhumans will be produced in conjunction with ABC and IMAX. Scott Buck, showrunner for the upcoming Iron Fist series, will helm the new show. The first two of the planned eight episodes will premiere in IMAX in early September. Inhumans will then begin airing on ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 27.