Eric Roberts leads new 'Crash' cast

With Dennis Hopper returning, 'Crash' will be back on Starz on Sept. 18

By Daniel Fienberg Thursday, Jun 11, 2009 4:56 PM

Jocko Sims and Dennis Hopper of Starz' 'Crash'

Credit: Starz

Starz has announced which new and returning cast members will join Dennis Hopper in the upcoming season season of the ensemble drama "Crash."

Leading the way among the fresh faces is Eric Roberts ("The Dark Knight," "Heroes"), who will play a Seth, billionaire entrepreneur attempting to bring an NFL team to Los Angeles. Julie Warner ("Doc Hollywood") also joins the cast as Andrea, Seth's manipulative right hand woman.

Dana Ashbrook ("Twin Peaks"), Linda Park ("Star Trek: Enterprise"), Jake McLaughlin ("In the Valley of Elah") and Tess Harper ("Tender Mercies") are also new to the cast, while Hopper leads a returning group that includes Ross McCall, Jocko Sims and Moran Atias.

"Crash" has begun production with Albuquerque playing the role of Los Angeles. The season premiere, directed by Andrew Bernstein ("Mad Men"), will hit Starz on Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. ET.

"It’s going to be a thrilling season with our returning cast and the new members of our ‘Crash’ family," says Stephan Shelanski, executive vice president, programming Starz Entertainment. "Eric Roberts is always unpredictable and exciting to watch and Tess Harper is a terrific and highly acclaimed actress. We look forward to an electrifying season with a wonderfully talented cast and crew."

The showrunner for season two will be Ira Steven Behr, new to the show along with executive producer James DeMonaco ("The Kill Point") and supervising producers Todd Harthan ("The Kill Point") and Elizabeth Benjamin ("Bones"). Original "Crash" Oscar winner Paul Haggis remains involved as executive producer.

"The exciting additions to our cast and writing-producing team have opened up the series to a wealth of new dramatic possibilities and we anticipate a very strong second season," says Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's president of television programming and production.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.