{
  "id": 136306,
  "title": "Casting News: Viola Davis' Paramount+ Thriller, Hercule Poirot Series Adds 10, And More",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/casting-news-viola-davis-paramount-thriller-hercule-poirot-series",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-04T16:06:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2230053/viola-davis-ascent-paramount-plus-thriller-hercule-poirot-britbox-series-cast/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actress Viola Davis is set to reprise her role on television, joining Paramount+ for an upcoming original series titled \"Ascent.\" This character-driven thriller, penned by John Logan, delves into the perilous landscape of global corporate crises and damage control. Directed by Logan, Davis will portray Catriona Vail, a high-powered corporate fixer tasked with employing her lethal skills to protect her estranged daughter from imminent danger.\n\nIn addition to her starring role, Davis will also serve as an executive producer through her production company, JuVee Productions. Her husband, Julius Tennon, co-produces alongside John Logan (showrunner) and Michael Aguilar (of Penny Dreadful fame). Davis expressed her excitement about the project, praising Logan's bold and unique storytelling. JuVee Productions, alongside Paramount, is gearing up for production in Los Angeles, with a tentative start date of 2027.",
  "summary": "Viola Davis is returning to the small screen: The How to Get Away With Murder alum will star in the Paramount+ thriller Ascent, TVLine has learned.",
  "key_points": [
    "Viola Davis reprises role in new Paramount+ series \"Ascent\"",
    "Davis portrays Catriona Vail, corporate fixer in perilous corporate crises",
    "Production set for 2027 in Los Angeles"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TVLine",
        "title": "Casting News: Richard Madden Boards Paramount+ Medical Thriller, Da Vinci Code Sequel Series Adds 4, And More",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/casting-news-richard-madden-boards-paramount-medical-thriller-da",
        "published": "2026-08-05T21:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}