True Blood's Kelly Overton Cast As Lead In Van Helsing

Kelly Overton (True Blood) has been cast as the titular lead of SyFy’s upcoming Van Helsing [...]

By Jamie Lovett

Kelly Overton

Kelly Overton (True Blood) has been cast as the titular lead of SyFy's upcoming Van Helsing series from Nomadic Pictures. The series has also cast Jonathan Scarfe (Hell on Wheels), Christopher Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels), Paul Johansson (Mad Men), David Cubitt (Ray Donovan) and Tim Guinee (Homeland).

Van Helsing is inspired by Dracula, and follows the resurrection of Vanessa Helsing (Overton), the next in line in the lineage of monster killing warriors. Waking in a world already ruled by vampires, Vanessa must lead mankind in an attempt to reclaim the planet.

According to Deadline, "Scarfe plays Axel, a career Marine with unwavering devotion and loyalty to both duty and his wards, despite years of isolation and endless vampire attacks. Heyerdahl will play Sam, a survivor of the vampire Rising, who relies on his strength and observational skills to stay alive. Cubitt will play John, another survivor of the vampire Rising, whose actions are fueled by anger, prejudice, suspicion and fear. Johansson will play Dimitri, a vampire turned before the Rising, he is now the patient and calculating leader of the vampires. Guinee will play Flesh, a vampire foot soldier who does battle with Vanessa and conceals a tragic past."

"We've been extremely blessed to get such a wonderfully talented and diverse cast for Van Helsing," said writer/showrunner Neil LaBute.

"Kelly will be an amazing Vanessa and our lead cast is nothing short of outstanding," said Chad Oakes, Co-Chairman of Nomadic Pictures.

Already signed on to direct episodes of Van Helsing are Michael Nankin (Hell on Wheels), Jason Priestley (Haven), David Frazee (Orphan Black), Simon Barry (Continuum) and Amanda Tapping (The Magicians).

Overton is most recognizable to genre fans as alpha werewolf Rikki Naylor on True Blood. She was also a series regular during Season 2 of TNT's Legends, and played a recurring character on The CW's Beauty and the Beast.

Executive producing the series are Chad Oakes & Mike Frislev from Nomadic Pictures, Neil LaBute, Simon Barry, Evan Tyler, Dave Brown and Dough Mankoff (Echo Lake Entertainment), as well as Daniel March (Dynamic Television). Nomadic Pictures will distribute the series within Canada, Fallout Asylum and Dynamic Television will distribute the series (initial window) in the United States. Dynamic Television is also on board as international distributor. SuperChannel and SuperEcran (Quebec) will air the Series in Canada.

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