James Marsden and Amber Heard Join the Cast of CBS All Access’s ‘The Stand’

CBS All Access confirmed today that James Marsden, Amber Heard, Odessa Young, and Henry Zaga will join the cast of The Stand. Based on Stephen King’s epic novel of the same name, this new adaptation will differ from both the book and the 1994 miniseries in that King himself will write a brand new final chapter to serve as the canonical coda to the story.

The Stand takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States of America where a superflu has wiped over 99% of the world’s population. The remaining survivors find themselves struggling to maintain order in makeshift camps and they are linked together by dreams telling them where to go. Some follow the direction of “Mother Abigail,” an elderly woman who instructs survivors to make their way to Colorado to set up a democratic society known as the “Free Zone.” However others feel pulled to Las Vegas, where an evil being known as Randall Flagg reigns.

During their presentation at Summer TCA today, CBS All Access confirmed that James Marsden will play the protagonist Stu Redman, Odessa Young will play pregnant college student Frannie Young, and Henry Zaga will be Nick Andros, a young deaf-mute drifter who leads survivors to Mother Abigail. Amber Heard will also star in the series as Nadine Cross, one of Flagg’s more complicated followers.

Per CBS, The Stand “will be produced by CBS Television Studios. Josh Boone and Ben Cavell will write and executive produce, with Boone also directing. Roy Lee, Jimmy Miller and Richard P. Rubinstein will also serve as executive producers with Will Weiske and Miri Yoon as co-executive producers. Knate Lee, Jill Killington and Owen King will serve as producers.”