Starz, a Lionsgate company announced today that Avan Jogia (Shaft, “Tut,” “Ghost Wars”) has been cast in the lead role of Ulysses for “Now Apocalypse,” the recently greenlit, straight-to-series comedy from creator and executive producer Gregg Araki (Kaboom, Mysterious Skin).
Jogia will play “Ulysses,” a recent transplant to Los Angeles, who is struggling to find his place in the world. Something of a thrill seeker, Ulysses admits that he’s always had an attraction to and fear of the unknown and is plagued by recurring nightmares, which he believes are a portent for a vast, sinister conspiracy.
Jogia recently wrapped Shaft for New Line opposite Samuel L. Jackson as well as the independent feature The Artist’s Wife opposite Bruce Dern and Lena Olin. Jogia previously starred opposite Sir Ben Kingsley in the epic retelling of “Tut” for Spike TV. He appeared in the independent feature The New Romantic, which won Best New Film at SXSW and also wrapped shooting the independent film Paper Year. Jogia appeared in two films featured at the LA Film Festival this past year – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in which he stars as ‘Puck’, and A Year Of Spectacular Men. Jogia also starred in The Drowning alongside Julia Stiles and Josh Charles, with Bette Gordon directing.
Jogia appeared in two independent films at Sundance Film Festival, I Am Michael co-starring opposite James Franco, and Ten Thousand Saints co-starring alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Ethan Hawke and Asa Butterfield.
Jogia directed his own short film, Of Dogs And Men and will direct Door Mouse, his first full-length feature film next year. Jogia was recently featured as one of the faces for the Kenzo fashion brand and walked in two Dolce and Gabbana shows last year. Jogia recently shot an editorial piece with Annie Leibovitz and Grace Coddington that will appear in Vogue.
“Now Apocalypse” follows Ulysses and his friends Carly, Ford and Severine, who are on various quests pursing love, sex and fame. This surreal coming-of-age comedy series explores identity, sexuality and artistry, while navigating the strange and oftentimes bewildering city of Los Angeles. Between sexual and romantic dating app adventures, Ulysses grows increasingly troubled as foreboding premonitory dreams make him wonder – is some kind of dark and monstrous conspiracy going on, or is he just smoking too much weed?
Executive producing with Araki are Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky, “The Knick”) and Gregory Jacobs (Magic Mike XXL, “Red Oaks”). All 10 half-hour episodes are co-written by author and Vogue.com sex columnist, Karley Sciortino, creator and host of “Slutever” on Viceland. Sciortino also serves as a consulting producer.
Starz retains all domestic multiplatform pay TV and SVOD rights to the series. Lionsgate retains all international and domestic distribution and home entertainment rights.
Senior Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna and Manager of Original Programming Kathleen Clifford are the Starz executives in charge of “Now Apocalypse.”
