Sean Astin joins Cary Fukunaga’s TNT series The Alienist

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

I don't know right now if I want to refer to Sean Astin as Mikey (from GOONIES), Samwise (from LORD OF THE RINGS), or RUDY (from that one movie; can't remember the title). That's the mark of successful actor, right? Three classic roles, four if you count ENCINO MAN, but no one does.

Looks like Mikey, Samwise, and Rudy are joining in on the fun with TNT's new series THE ALIENIST. Mikey-wise will be joining the cast of Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, Dakota Fanning, Robert Wisdom, Q'orianka Kilcher, Matt Lintz, Matthew Shear and Douglas Smith in the drama series based on the bestselling book by Caleb Carr.

Rudy will be playing, get this, Theodore Roosevelt in the series. 

Roosevelt was  the Police Commissioner for New York City at the time the book/series takes place. Interesting… Anyways, Rudy's Roosevelt will, again, be joining Daniel Brühl as forensic psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler; Luke Evans as newspaper illustrator John Moore; and Dakota Fanning as Sara Howard, a headstrong secretary at Police Headquarters, who together investigate a series of brutal murders in New York during the Gilded Age.

Here is further info on Mikey's role via press release:

Astin will play the brilliant, ambitious, but principled Theodore Roosevelt, a crusading reformist determined to clear up corruption in the police force he now heads. While usually inured to crime in New York, Roosevelt becomes outraged over the fact that children are being murdered in his city and develops a warlike zeal to find the perpetrator.

Here is THE ALIENIST synopsis:

A psychological thriller set in the Gilded Age of New York City in 1896, a city of vast wealth, extreme poverty and technological innovation. When a series of haunting, gruesome murders of boy prostitutes grips the city, newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt calls upon criminal psychologist (aka alienist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Evans) to conduct the investigation in secret. They are aided by a makeshift crew of singular characters, among them the intrepid Sara Howard (Fanning), a young secretary on Roosevelt's staff who is determined to become the first female police detective in New York City. Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and early forensic investigation techniques, this band of social outsiders tracks down one of New York City's first serial killers.

The Alienist is currently shooting with director Jakob Verbruggen at the helm. TRUE DETECTIVE Season 1 director Cary Fukunaga serves as executive producer of the new series.

Sean Astin (had to just once) can be seen next in STRANGER THINGS S2.

Dakota Fanning is what, like, 40 now?