Marvel has found the leads for its latest TV series, the “Runaways” adaptation at Hulu.
“Faking It” star Gregg Sulkin will be joined by newcomers Ariela Barer, Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner and Allegra Acosta.
“The fun and chemistry that this group of talented actors create is wonderful and we’re so excited to bring these beloved characters to life,” said Jeph Loeb, Executive Producer and Head of Marvel Television, in a statement.
“Runaways” follows six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but must come together to defeat a common foe: their parents.
“The OC” and “Gossip Girl” bosses Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are writing and executive producing the new series, which is based on the comic book by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. Fake Empire’s Lis Rowinski is also producing.
Feliz (“Teen Wolf,” “Casual”) plays Alex Wilder, described as a loud-and-proud nerd. Admittedly a bit of a loner, Alex spends much of his free-time playing video games, but deep down, what he wants most is to reunite his childhood group of friends.
Okano (“The Affair,” “Unforgettable”) plays Nico Minoru – tough, intelligent, independent and embodies teenage angst. A budding “Wiccan,” Nico’s carefully crafted goth appearance isolates her from her peers and family, but maybe what she really needs is someone to talk to.
Gardner (“Goat,” “Little Bitches”) joins the cast as Karolina Dean, who has a model-perfect exterior with a lot going on behind her professionally whitened smile. She’s burdened by the lofty expectations and responsibilities put upon her by her parents. Underneath her veneer of privilege and perfection, Karolina is experiencing a newfound eagerness to explore her identity and pursue her own desires.
Barer (“New Girl,” “One Day at a Time”) as Gert Yorkes is a purple-haired, bespectacled, contemporary riot grrrl. Never passing up a moment to stand on a soapbox, Gert sometimes wields her persona as a brash social justice warrior to mask her true feelings.
Sulkin (“Faking It,” “Don’t Hang Up,” “Anti Social”) plays Chase Stein, a lacrosse-playing, high school heartthrob. While many write him off as a dumb jock, Chase exhibits flashes of untapped brilliance in engineering, not unlike his wildly successful father’s.
Acosta (“100 Things to do Before High School,” “Just Add Magic”) as Molly Hernandez, the youngest and most innocent member of her friend group, is known for her peppy positivity and a deep yearning to belong.