Buffy’s Anthony Head Will Rule CW’s The Selection
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Except for reprising a role in the American remake of the British sitcom Free Agents, Anthony Head hasn’t been a regular on U.S. television since he played the mentor and father figure, Rupert Giles, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, even though a spinoff series based on his character had been planned by creator Joss Whedon. After nearly 10 years of waiting, Head is coming back to rule the roost.
Head has signed on for a role in the retooled version of The Selection, the CW adaptation of Kiera Cass’ young adult novel that cannot be spoken of without comparing it to The Hunger Games, and to a lesser extent, the Japanese murder-fest Battle Royale. Head, who is replacing Martin Donovan for this reworked pilot, will play King Clarkson, the royal family’s patriarch who rules the nation where the story takes place.
The plot, which takes place 300 years in the future, centers on a working-class woman (Israeli actress Yael Grobglas) who wins a lottery to compete against 25 other women for the hand of the Royal Prince Maxon (Michael Malarkey). As with many a royal wedding before, Maxon’s father warns his son that his choice should have political motivations rather than romantic ones. The series will also star Sean Patrick Thomas (Ringer), Peta Sergeant (Iron Sky), newcomer Celia Massingham, and British TV actor Lucien Laviscount. TV veteran Alex Graves will be directing the pilot.
It’s good news, of course, even though it seems like King Clarkson will be a more evil character than good old Rupert Giles. He has the ability to command, and should provide a nice breath of fresh air from all the Bachelor-lite romance going on. Three hundred years in the future, reality TV becomes reality.
