After a body is found, a wildly eccentric detective (Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black) comes to investigate 157 suspects attending a state dinner.
Production of The Residence, which was interrupted due to the writers' strike, has now resumed. Former Senator Al Franken (pictured left) will appear in the series as Washington State Senator Aaron Filkins. Andrew Friedman (photo middle), known from the Netflix series GLOW, plays Irv Samuelson, director of the National Park Police, and Julian McMahon (photo right) from FBI: Most Wanted has been cast as Stephen Roos, the Prime Minister of Australia.
Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul actor Esposito takes over the role of White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter, a role previously played by Andre Braugher. Two and a half decades ago, Esposito succeeded Braugher in Homicide: Life On The Street, following Braugher's departure (inset photo below), in the final season of the NBC drama. The duo then starred together in the 2000 television film.
“I couldn’t be prouder and more honored to be stepping into Shondaland’s The Residence for someone that I loved and respected and cherished in Andre Braugher,” Esposito said. “To be afforded the opportunity to create in his honor with this incredible team extends the depth and breadth of his legacy through all of us who loved him so dearly.”
The casting won't hinder Esposito's starring role in AMC's new series Parish, should the drama get a second season.
The Residence, from executive producer/showrunner Paul William Davies and executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, made four episodes of the eight-episode series before filming was suspended during the early days of the writers' strike in May.
The series is scheduled to return to production on January 2. In light of Braugher's death on December 12, the restart of filming was postponed to give the cast and crew more time to grieve while Netflix and the producers chart a course to move forward without the actor. Braugher's scenes are reshot with Esposito.
The cast also includes Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us), Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl), Ken Marino (Black Monday), Edwina Findley (Treme) and Randall Park (Marvel's WandaVision).
Esposito has earned five Emmy nominations, three for his signature role as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and its prequel Better Call Saul and two for his role as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian.
