Casting News: Angela Bassett and Marianne Jean Baptiste in Films, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Regina King on TV

Angela and Marianne in dramas and Keenan and Regina take on comedy.

Posted: 11/30/2012 09:15 AM EST
Angela Bassett, Marianne Jean Baptiste

The big and small screen will soon have some of the acting industry’s favorite faces. Angela Bassett has been added to the cast of the upcoming film White Bird in a Blizzard. The movie, which is directed by Greg Araki and stars Gabourey Sidibe, tells the story of a troubled woman whose life is transformed by the disappearance of her mother. No word yet on who Bassett plays, but the Oscar-nominated actress posted the following on her Facebook page: “Filming the new Gregg Araki movie today with Gabby Sidibe, very excited!”

Marianne Jean-Baptiste joined the cast of the new Tom Cruise action-thriller, All You Need Is Kill. Cruise plays a soldier in a war with aliens who finds himself in a time warp during his last day in battle. Jean-Baptiste will play a scientist named Dr. Whittle and principal photography has begun in London. All You Need Is Kill is set for release on March 14, 2014.

Keenan Ivory Wayans will be returning to television this season. The In Living Color visionary will guest star on TV Land’s Happily Divorced, which stars Fran Drescher and Tichina Arnold. Wayans will star as Arnold’s ex-boyfriend. This marks the first time Wayans has appeared on TV since 2001, when he guest starred on brother Damon’s sitcom, My Wife and Kids. Happily Divorced centers around a Los Angeles florist (Drescher) who discovers after 18 years of marriage that her husband is gay. Arnold stars as Drescher’s BFF on the series.

Regina King will return to her comedy roots by guest starring on CBS’s hit comedy The Big Bang Theory in January 2013. King will play the director of employee relations at the university where Sheldon (Jim Parsons) works. There’s also word that King’s guest-starring role may become a recurring one. The actress will return to her starring role as Detective Lydia Adams on the TNT cop drama Southland in February.

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.


Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.  

(Photos: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Videos You May Like

Comments

The Dos and Don’ts of Winning the Lottery

Hitting the jackpot can have serious consequences. 11/28/2012

Sports Rewind: Turkish Soccer Team Plans to Don Blackface

Plus, Chad Johnson faces arrest warrant, Beckham retires. 05/16/2013

Cash Kings: 15 Highest Paid Black Athletes

"Money" Mayweather and more top-earning stars. 05/15/2013

Out and About: Mariah Carey On Stage at American Idol Season Finale

Plus pics of Kim K., Amber Rose, Drake and more. 05/17/2013

Dirty Laundry: Scandalous Details Artists Reveal in Songs

Kelly Rowland is just the latest musician to air things out. 05/15/2013

Brainiacs: Celebs Who Attended Ivy League Schools

Who walked the halls of Harvard, Princeton and Yale? 05/16/2013