Rebel has added actors Kevin Zegers and Sam Palladio to its cast, as the actors will join Katey Sagal on the TV show based on famed legal activist Erin Brockovich.
The castings come as ABC has issued a straight-to-series order for Rebel, based on the legal advocacy career of Erin Brockovich, who was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the 2000 film.
Sagal, 66, will portray Annie ‘Rebel’ Bello, described as a blue-collar legal advocate without a law degree, while Zegers, 36, will play her son Nate, a doctor who has issues with his mother.
Just announced: Rebel has added actors Kevin Zegers and Sam Palladio to its cast, as the actors will join Katey Sagal on the TV show based on famed legal activist Erin Brockovich
Palladio plays an attorney named Nick, who is working for a law firm Bello’s ex-husband runs. Zegers has past been seen on Walking Dead, Dirty John and Power, while Palladio has been seen on Nashville and Humans.
Bello is described by the network as a, ‘funny, messy, brilliant and fearless woman who cares desperately about the causes she fights for and the people she loves.’
She also possesses great determination, and when she ‘applies herself to a fight she believes in, she will win at almost any cost.’
Krista Vernoff, whose past work includes Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, is collaborating on the show with Brockovich, according to Deadline. Vernoff will pen the script to the first show, which Tara Nicole Weyr is directing.
New role: The later life of Erin Brockovich, after the movie of the same name made her a household name, will become a new TV series on ABC, starring Katey Sagal
New series: ABC has issued a straight-to-series order for Rebel, based on the legal advocacy career of Erin Brockovich, who was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the 2000 film
Erin Brockovich said in a statement: ‘Rebel is not just my story, it is all of our stories. There is a hero that exists in all of us, and I am so excited for Krista Vernoff and ABC to bring their visionary storytelling to this series. The name Rebel oozes self-empowerment, courage and rising above, even in the worst of circumstances.
‘I cannot think of anyone better to play this role than the indomitable Katey Sagal, who is such a force, as well as the rest of this extraordinary cast.’
Said ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke: ‘Erin Brockovich has never stopped the extraordinary work she does fighting for her clients like they’re family, and Krista Vernoff’s take on her life today in Rebel is undeniable.
‘Katey Sagal is a powerhouse as Rebel … viewers are going to fall in love with these characters and the world Krista has created for them.’
Fearless: Bello is described as a, ‘funny, messy, brilliant and fearless woman who cares desperately about the causes she fights for and the people she loves’
First episode: Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff wrote the pilot episode, with Tara Nicole Weyr directing the first episode
Erin’s statement: ‘Rebel’is not just my story, it is all of our stories. There is a hero that exists in all of us, and I am so excited for Krista Vernoff and ABC to bring their visionary storytelling to this series,’ said Erin Brockovich
Courage: ‘The name ‘Rebel’ oozes self-empowerment, courage and rising above, even in the worst of circumstances,’ she added
Vernoff added, ‘The work that Erin Brockovich does in this world is so powerful and so important that it almost defies description.
‘Erin works tirelessly for social, legal and environmental justice despite the lack of a formal degree. She inspires everyone she meets to become their own heroes, and somehow, she also keeps us laughing. It has been a tremendous honor to get to know Erin and to create a show inspired by her,’ she added.
The series is produced by ABC Signature in association with Sony Pictures Television. ABC Signature is a part of Disney Television Studios, alongside 20th Television and Touchstone Television.
Katey as Erin: Vernoff added, ‘The work that Erin Brockovich does in this world is so powerful and so important that it almost defies description
Producers: Rebel is executive produced by Krista Vernoff and Alexandre Schmitt of Trip the Light, Erin Brockovich, John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment and Andrew Stearn