Casting News: Javier Bardem's HBO Drama, Another Mormon Wives Star Exits, And More

Javier Bardem is heading to the Sunshine State for his next TV role.

The Oscar winner has signed on to star in "The Spread," a new HBO drama series set in Miami, TVLine has learned. Matthew Vaughn ("X-Men: First Class") will direct the series and serve as an executive producer, along with Bardem.

In the series, "Miami is turning paradise into power — Wall Street South — a subtropical collision of industry titans, elite hedge funds, staggering wealth, ruthless competition, sex, nightlife and fun on an industrial scale," according to the official logline. "Into this sun-soaked arena comes a visionary billionaire who collects the brilliant, the hungry and the dangerous, then turns their ambitions loose on the markets that power America. He chases something bigger: the power to shift the center of economic gravity to Miami — and decide how long the party lasts."

Bardem is best known for his film work, including his Oscar-winning role as ruthless killer Anton Chigurh in 2007's "No Country for Old Men." Earlier this year, he played vengeance-seeking ex-con Max Cady in Apple TV's adaptation of "Cape Fear." (Check out our finale recap.) He also earned an Emmy nomination in 2024 for playing dad José Menendez in Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

• Taylor Frankie Paul has announced she's stepping away from her Hulu reality series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" after five seasons. Paul — whose season of "The Bachelorette" was scrapped by ABC earlier this year after off-camera controversy — explains on Instagram: "My gratitude goes to all the networks that supported me throughout this and gave me the chance to return. However I don't desire to move forward like this." Her exit follows the departure of fellow cast member Mikayla Matthews last week.
• CBS' "Elsbeth" has added three guest stars to its upcoming Season 4 (premiering Thursday, October 8 at 9 p.m.), per Deadline: Lea Michele ("Glee"), as Pilates trainer Darcy Miles; Sam Richardson ("Veep"), as competitive eater Cody Baxter; and Nat Faxon ("Loot"), as golf club member Perry Macintyre. 
• FX's upcoming video game adaptation "Far Cry" has added five to its cast: Brendan Gleeson ("Spider-Noir"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("Fargo"), Hamish Linklater ("Widow's Bay"), Sam Spruell ("A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"), and Jamie Demetriou ("The Afterparty").