The Walking Dead’s Tom Payne cast as serial killer’s son in Fox pilot

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Just four days after announcing that former Iron Fist star Finn Jones (who you might also know from Game of Thrones or the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE prequel LEATHERFACE) would be taking the lead role in their crime drama pilot Prodigal Son, Fox has switched gears and decided to replace Jones with Tom Payne, who recently wrapped a four season run on The Walking Dead as the character nicknamed Jesus.

Payne will be playing the "intelligent but deeply damaged" Malcolm Bright, a character who 

has a gift. He knows how killers think, how their minds work. Why? His father was one of the worst — a notorious serial killer called The Surgeon. That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He will use his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son, and his own constantly evolving neuroses. 

Malcolm is said to have a "self-deprecating sense of humor and a surprising level of compassion", and his demeanor will apparently often anger his co-workers at the NYPD.

Fox promises Prodigal Son will be "a fresh take on a crime franchise with a provocative and outrageous lead character and darkly comedic tone."

Payne's co-stars will include Lou Diamond Phillips, Aurora Perrineau, and Frank Harts, with Michael Sheen as Malcolm's serial killer father.

Lee Toland Krieger will be directing the pilot, which has been written by Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver. Krieger, Fedak, and Sklaver also serve as executive producers alongside Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter.

Crime shows like this are generally not very appealing to me, but hopefully Prodigal Son will be interesting enough to stand out from the crowd if Fox decides to order it to series. I liked Payne on The Walking Dead, even though he was never given very much to do (as he has pointed out himself), so I'm glad to see that he may be getting his own show.