Mob City Information

Mob City is an upcoming television show created by Frank Darabont for TNT. It is based primarily on the book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City by John Buntin. The series was known as L.A. Noir and Lost Angels during development. It is set to debut on December 4, 2013.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Jon Bernthal as Joe Teague, an ex-marine turned police officer caught in the conflict between Parker and Cohen.
• Jeremy Luke as Mickey Cohen, the most dangerous mobster in Los Angeles.
• Milo Ventimiglia as Ned Stax, a lawyer and fixer for Cohen, who also fought alongside Teague in the war.
• Jeffrey DeMunn as Hal Morrison, the detective at the head of the L.A.P.D.'s new mob squad.
• Alexa Davalos as Jasmine, a beautiful woman whose past comes back to haunt her.
• Neal McDonough as William Parker, the chief of the L.A.P.D. bent on taken down Cohen.
• Jeremy Strong as Mike Hendry, Morrison's second in command.
• Robert Knepper as Sid Rothmen, a mobster working closely with Cohen.
• Edward Burns as Bugsy Siegel, one of the most infamous mobsters in Los Angeles.

Recurring cast

• Ernie Hudson as "Bunny," a mobster who owns nightclubs across Central Avenue
• Pihla Viitala as Anya, the head bartender at one of Bunny's bars.
• Ron Rifkin as Fletcher Bowron, the mayor of Los Angeles.
• Amin Joseph as Booker "Skeety" Washington Smith.

Production

Development

The project was first announced in January 2012, under the title L.A. Noir. When asked about details concerning the show, Darabont said that various cultures, such as that of African-Americans and Hispanics, will likely be explored, as well as that he is interested in expanding upon already touched upon aspects from Buntin's book. Darabont also commented on the general nature of his project, explaining that he wants to avoid it coming off as a docudrama while still staying true to the book, part of the way to do it being to insert fictional characters into the timeline. The series was picked up for an additional six episodes in October 2012.

In January 2013, the title was changed to Lost Angels, as it was considered too similar to that of the video game L.A. Noire. In August 2013, the title was changed again to Mob City.

Casting

Jon Bernthal was the first to be officially cast, initially as only being in negotitations but a month afterward being officially cast as the lead. Following after him were Milo Ventimiglia, Jeremy Strong, Neal McDonough, and Simon Pegg in a guest role. Alexa Davalos is cast as the female lead. Following this two more cast members were announced, Jeffrey DeMunn and Andrew Rothenberg, in a guest role. Both having previously worked with Bernthal and Darabont in The Walking Dead. Following the six episode order Pihla Viitala and Ron Rifkin, who also worked with Darabont in The Majestic, were confirmed to star. Thomas Jane, who starred in Darabont's The Mist, was in talks to join the show in the recurring role of famous mobster Bugsy Siegel. Edward Burns was later cast in the role of Siegel, instead of Jane. Jeremy Luke was confirmed to be playing the legendary mobster Mickey Cohen in June 2013. River Alexander will play Cohen as a child in flasback sequences. Haley Strode has been cast as the young Cohen's first victim. Amin Joseph who had previously worked with Darabont on The Mist has been cast in the recurring role of Booker "Skeety" Washington Smith. Robert Knepper confirmed that he had been cast in a recurring role in the series, but at the time his role was unknown. Before filming of the rest of the series began Knepper was promoted to a series regular, as Sid Rothman, a mobster working for Cohen. Ernie Hudson was cast in a recurring role as a mobster nicknamed "Bunny," in June 2013.

Filming

According to guest star Simon Pegg, filming for the pilot began on May 10, 2012 and wrapped shortly after sunset on May 25, 2012. The rest of the series is set to begin filming in mid-June 2013.