Lucy Lawless and Stuart Townsend are going back in time.
The former “Xena: Warrior Princess” actress and the actor who starred on ABC’s “Betrayal” are joining WGN America’s “Salem” for Season 2, which began production on Wednesday. Actors Joe Doyle (“Raw”) and Oliver Bell (“How to Make Love Like an Englishman”) are also set to join the cast of the witch drama, set in 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, site of the infamous real-life witch trials that resulted in executions of 20 people.
Lawless, set as a recurring guest star, will play Countess Marburg, who comes from a long line of German witches. In addition to starring as Xena on the popular syndicated action series for well over 100 episode, Lawless is known for her work on Syfy’s “Battlestar Galactica” and Starz’s “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.” She also guest starred earlier this season on ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD,” though her character was short lived.
Agency for the Performing Arts, Auckland Actors and Valeo Entertainment represent her.
Townsend, also a recurring guest, plays English aristocrat Samuel Wainright, a doctor trying to uncover Salem’s secrets. He stars on the Franco-Canadian show “XIII: The Series” in addition to having worked on “Betrayal.” He’s also famously portrayed the vampire Lestat in the feature film adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Queen of the Damned.”
Jonathan Arun Talent and UTA represent him.
Meanwhile, Doyle (“Raw”) and Bell join the “Salem” cast as a series regulars. Doyle plays Baron Sebastian Marburg and Bell will reprise the role of Mary’s son, previously believed to be dead.
The series stars Janet Montgomery (“Black Swan”) as Mary, Shane West (“Nikita,” “ER”) as Captain John Alden, Seth Gabel (“Fringe”) as Cotton Mather, Ashley Madekwe (“Revenge”) as Tituba, Tamzin Merchant (“Jane Eyre”) as Anne Hale, Elise Eberle (“The Astronaut Farmer”) as Mercy Lewis and Iddo Goldberg (“Mob City”) as Isaac Walton.
Adam Simon and Brannon Braga created the series and serve as co-executive producers with Jeff Kwatinetz, Josh Barry and Nick Copus (“Arrow,” “Nikita”), who was just added to the list this season, which begins production in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Wednesday.