Anna Gunn, Jacki Weaver Join 'Broadchurch' Remake

Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha/LA Times

Broadchurch is on its way to America, and with it is the first bit of casting news following the announcement that David Tennant would be reprising his lead role from the critically-acclaimed British original.

Anna Gunn, who won an Emmy in September for her work on Breaking Bad, has joined the newly-dubbed Gracepoint, taking over the role of Det. Ellie Miller, originally inhabited by Olivia Colman. Meanwhile, two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) will star as the mysterious Susan Wright, the role originated by Pauline Quirke.

While Gunn's and Weaver's characters retain the names of their British counterparts, Tennant's character has been renamed. Det. Alec Hardy is now Det. Emmett Carver, an investigator dispatched to the small, seaside town of Gracepoint to investigate a murder in which everyone in town is a viable suspect.

In Treatment's Dan Futterman and Anya Epstein will serve as both showrunners and executive producers alongside original series creator Chris Chibnall, who will script the pilot. Filming is expected to begin in January for premiere during the 2014-2015 broadcast season.

Weaver is an inspired choice for the role, in my opinion, but I'm not entirely sold on Gunn just yet. She's a great talent in her own right, but Colman's portrayal of Ellie Miller is so emblazoned on my brain that it's hard to imagine anyone else embodying the role. Hopefully, Gunn is up to the task.

What do you think of this casting? Are the respective actresses right for the roles? Sound off in the comments!

Via: Entertainment Weekly