Marcia Gay Harden has been cast in Season 2 of “Murder in a Small Town,” Variety has learned exclusively.
Harden will appear in a series regular role, playing Mayor Christie Holman in the mystery drama. The character is described as “a beloved figure in the community and also a consummate political operator. She’s still a practicing doctor and has the best interests of the people of Gibsons at heart, but sometimes she lets her personal interests take precedence. She will complicate life for Karl (Rossif Sutherland) and Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk), as she uses the competing priorities of the community to advance her own agenda.”
Harden most recently starred in the CBS dramedy “So Help Me Todd” for two seasons. She has received Emmy nominations for her work in “The Morning Show,” “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler,” and for guest starring on “Law & Order: SVU.” She won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her work in “Pollock” and was nominated in the same category for the film “Mystic River.” She will next be seen starring opposite Sophie Turner and Kit Harington in “The Dreadful,” which just wrapped production in England, and was recently cast in the Apple TV+ series “Margo’s Got Money Trouble.”
She is repped by Independent Artist Group, Framework Entertainment, Schreck Rose, and The Initiative Group.
“Murder in a Small Town” was picked up for a second season in January, with the new season currently in production in British Columbia. The series is based on the Karl Alberg books by L.R. Wright. Fox acquired the U.S. rights to the show in late 2023. It airs on the Global Television Network in Canada and premiered on Fox and Global in September 2024.
Ian Weir serves as head writer and executive producer. Nick Orchard of Soap Box Productions, which originally optioned the Alberg books, executive produces along with Morris Ruskin and Sharon Wisnia of Mojo Global Arts and Jon Cotton. The series is produced by Sepia Films in association with Fox Entertainment and Future Shack Entertainment.
Per the official description of Season 2, “Karl Alberg will continue to investigate crimes both in and around Gibsons, as his jurisdiction expands and he has to contend with an increased caseload and limited resources. Meanwhile, Cassandra’s career and community involvement takes her in new and unexpected directions, and Karl and Cassandra will have to navigate the balance of these commitments with their deepening relationship.”
