According to TV Line, Michael Peña is set to join the cast of Fox’s upcoming Broadchurch remake, Gracepoint. He’ll star as Mark Lasseter, the father of the 11-year-old boy whose murder provides the central mystery of the show. (Andrew Buchan played the role in the original Broadchurch.) Peña has been seen in movies like Crash and Gangster Squad, and he’s also set to play César Chávez in an upcoming biopic. Peña joins previously announced stars David Tennant (who's returning from the original series), Anna Gunn, Jacki Weaver, and Kevin Zegers.
While questions have been raised about whether a remake of a show starring the same lead actor that just had a successful run on BBC America is really necessary, Peña’s casting, at least, opens up a possibility for Gracepoint to add a racial competent that wasn't a part of the mostly white Broadchurch. And if the show so desires, it could examine prejudices in the way the media and the police deal with cases involving children of color. Either way, it's nice to see Gracepoint embrace its California setting by casting a diverse ensemble.