Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt and The Gilded Age actress Amy Forsyth have joined the cast of MGM+'s upcoming television adaptation of The Magnificent Seven.
New Characters in a Classic Franchise
The fresh interpretation of the legendary franchise continues to expand its ensemble. While The Magnificent Seven has been brought to the big screen twice before — including the original 1960 masterpiece, itself drawn from Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, and the 2016 reimagining — the new series will feature entirely new characters.
Joanne Froggatt will take on the role of Harriet Talbot, a tenacious and steadfast woman characterised as intelligent, fearless and refusing to be cowed. Raised in poverty in Boston, Harriet's story unfolds as she escapes an abusive marriage to a wealthy businessman. Expecting a child and utterly alone, she seeks sanctuary in a refuge for vulnerable women, where she encounters pressure to give up her unborn baby for adoption, reports the Mirror.
Character Details
Deadline provided a description of her character: "Lost and with nowhere to turn, she happened upon a Quaker community that took her in without question. The community became her home and her faith. Wanting to marry and settle down, she is matched with Samuel in a Quaker community all the way out in Wyoming. Shortly after she arrives, and minutes after the ceremony, Samuel is killed in Skelton in an effort to scare them off their land. Harriet cannot stand idly by. She sets out to find protection, and it's through her that Chris is drawn into the mission. Her strength isn't in firepower. It's in conviction."
Television favourite Joanne is best known for her role as Anna Bates in Downton Abbey, and has subsequently starred in numerous critically acclaimed dramas, including Liar, Angela Black, North Shore and MobLand.
Amy Forsyth's Role
Meanwhile, actress Amy Forsyth is set to portray Katie 'Deadeye' Dalton, a character described as "wry, sarcastic, and emotionally guarded". Renowned for her remarkable marksmanship, Katie is enlisted to join the Wild West show, where she unexpectedly crosses paths with Vin, portrayed by Michael Ealy. The two share a complicated past, having previously experienced a "brief, vivid fling neither quite forgot". Amy's previous film work includes Beautiful Boy and The Novice, while her television appearances feature Rise, Dear Edward and Coyote.
Expanding Ensemble Cast
The actresses are joining an expanding ensemble cast headed by Matt Dillon as Chris Adams, alongside Will Patton as Cyrus T. Clemons, Michael Ealy as Vin Tanner and Danny Pino as Santiago "Santi" Vega. Their casting represents a thrilling new direction for The Magnificent Seven, introducing two fresh characters absent from either of the earlier film versions, with the series broadening its scope beyond the franchise's historically male-dominated narratives.
