Deadline is reporting that The CW’s Nancy Drew pilot (purportedly titled The Haunting of Nancy Drew) has cast Maddison Jaizani (Versailles) and The Fosters alum Alex Saxon. Jaizani is set as refined and wealthy Bess, a young woman who becomes an ally to Nancy when they end up suspects in the same murder, while Saxon will play charming, unexpectedly insightful dishwasher Ace.
Based on the book series of the same name, with Noga Landau (The Magicians) scripting and Melinda Hsu Taylor (The Vampire Diaries) serving as showrunner, Nancy Drew follows its title character (newcomer Kennedy McMann), an 18-year-old small town girl just out of high school who dreams of starting college away from her hometown. However, a family tragedy gets in the way of her move and soon Nancy rekindles her love of detective work and discovers secrets that will shake the fabric of her town.
In addition to her role on the Canal+/Ovation period drama, Jaizani’s television credits include Into the Badlands and Tyrant, while Saxon has appeared on the likes of The Fix and Finding Carter.
Nancy Drew is part of a pilot slate for The CW that includes DC-verse spinoff Batwoman; Riverdale spinoff Katy Keene; Jane the Virgin spinoff Jane the Novela; a new take on The Lost Boys; and Glamorous, about a YouTube vlogger working at a cosmetics company.
