Deadine is reporting that The Walking Dead alum Tom Payne has replaced Finn Jones as the lead on FOX serial killer pilot Prodigal Son. The reason behind the switch was cast chemistry at the first table read and how the table read was the first time producers saw Jones in the role since his deal closed the day prior.
From Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver (Deception), Prodigal Son tells the story of criminal psychologist Malcolm Bright (Payne), whose proficiency at thinking like a criminal comes from his experience of having a serial killer as a father. If ordered, the series would follow Bright as he teamed up with the NYPD to solve crimes and dealt with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, and a homicidal father still looking to bond.
In addition to his role on the AMC drama, Payne’s television credits include Luck, Waterloo Road, and Skins. He joins a cast that includes Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex), Bellamy Young (Scandal), and Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire).
Prodigal Son is part of a drama pilot slate for FOX that includes an untitled dramedy from Tom Kapinos whose first season takes place at a wedding; an untitled fertility drama based on Australian series Sisters; A.I. thriller neXt; cop drama Deputy, which stars Stephen Dorff; and Southern gothic soap Filthy Rich.
