'Veronica Mars' cast members will reportedly return for CW web series
When it was first announced, little was known about聽聽- the web-based spinoff from Rob Thomas and The CW鈥檚 cult TV series聽聽-聽aside from the tidbit that it would star Ryan Hansen as his Neptune counterpart, Dick Casablancas. At the time, the project was聽overshadowed by the聽Veronica Mars聽movie (), which聽was partially funded by the show鈥檚 vocal following. Thomas originally told聽聽that the series would center on a fictionalized version of Hansen who decides to capitalize on聽Veronica Mars鈥�聽popularity and pen a spinoff focusing on his character.
Now, while debate over whether聽Veronica Mars聽will (and should) receive a sequel is still ongoing, it鈥檚 been almost seven months since Thomas or The CW released any information about the spinoff webseries. However, with filming on聽Play It Again, Dick聽officially wrapped, multiple characters and actors have been confirmed as well as a premiere date on The CW鈥檚 online platform: CW Seed.
聽confirmed that in addition to Hansen, fellow聽Veronica Marsveterans would appear in the series. Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, Percy Daggs III, Daran Norris, Francis Capra, Kyle Gallner, and Christopher B. Duncan will all reprise their聽Veronica Mars聽roles on聽Play It Again, Dick聽in addition to portraying fictionalized versions of their real selves. Ryan Devlin 鈥� who played Mercer Hayes in the third season 鈥� will play a fictional version of himself and take on Teddy Dunn鈥檚 role: Duncan Kane.
These cast members will be joined by Chris Lowell and Ken Marino, who will play fictionalized versions of themselves; Amanda Noret and Lisa Thornhill, meanwhile, will reprise their characters Madison Sinclair and Celeste Kane. Robert Buckley and Rose McIver 鈥� stars of Thomas鈥檚 upcoming CW series,聽聽鈥� will portray original characters on聽Play It Again, Dick, which will premiere the week of September 15.
When Thomas talked to Hitfix about聽Play It Again, Dick, he said the tone would be more similar to his short-lived Starz series 鈥� with an equally passionate cult following 鈥撀�Party Down, which focused on a group of actors, writers, and various wannabes living in Los Angeles working as caterers and waiting for their big break. Fans of聽Veronica Mars聽who also enjoyed聽Party Down聽will be excited by the meta nature of聽Play It Again, Dick,聽as it will hopefully capture the best of both of Thomas鈥� previous series.
However, the webseries is only working with eight episodes in its first season 鈥� each lasting eight to 10 minutes. Fans might be excited to see their favorite characters and actors return, but聽Play It Again, Dick聽will need to work them in efficiently so that the episodes don鈥檛 feel rushed. Avid followers of the series and its creator will appreciate fan service, but not at the expense of quality storytelling and television.
厂迟颈濒濒,听Veronica Mars聽owes much of its recent success to its fans, so a little bit a fan service wouldn鈥檛 be out of the question. Additionally, if the video Thomas released聽聽is any indication, the show鈥檚 stars 鈥� including Hansen, Bell, Dohring, and Colantoni 鈥� are as big of fans of the series as those who followed聽Veronica Mars鈥�聽success from the comfort of their homes.
Play It Again, Dick聽will premiere on CW Seed the week of September 15th, 2014.
Molly Freeman blogs at .
