Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey has signed on as the lead in Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks psychological thriller Beacon 23. She will be playing the role of "Aster", a woman who mysteriously finds her way to a lonely beacon keeper on his lighthouse in the darkest recesses of space. Headey will also serve as the executive producer for the project through her production company, Peephole Productions.
"We had exactly one person in mind when thinking about who could play Aster - who could bring the strength, the vulnerability, and the brilliance to Zak's complex character? No one but Lena Headey. We couldn't be more excited to go on this thrill ride with Lena and Zak leading the way," said Katherine Pope, Head of Spectrum Originals.
From creator Zak Penn (Ready Player One, The Avengers), this intimate, suspenseful thriller follows two people whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together at the end of the known universe. A tense battle of wills unfolds at the edge of space, Halan, the beacon keeper, begins to question whether Aster is friend or foe as her ability to disguise her agenda and motives could make her a formidable opponent. Co-commissioned by Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks, co-produced by Spectrum Originals and Boat Rocker Studios, the series is based on the book of the same name by The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Hugh Howey. After a nine-month exclusive run for Spectrum, BEACON 23 will be an AMC original with a second window across AMC Networks platforms.
Katie O'Connell Marsh, Vice-Chair, Boat Rocker Studios, said, "Having known and worked with Lena the past few years my admiration for her inspiring talent is unending. I'm so thrilled that Lena embraced the role of Aster and equally happy she'll be executive producing through her production company Peephole."
"Lena Headey was a wonderful, versatile actress before she gave one of the defining performances in television history. So, as they say, ‘no pressure.' I'm thankful to all the people making this show possible, they just keep delivering beyond my expectations," said Zak Penn, creator, executive producer, and showrunner.
"This is such an exciting casting. Lena is a towering giant in the business, a remarkable and multi-dimensional talent, and to have her as part of this series elevates it in every way," said Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC Networks Entertainment Group and co-president of AMC Studios.
