The TV adaptation for Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency found its male co-leads earlier in March and now it's rounding up the cast with the female lead role going to Hannah Marks.
Marks will play Amanda Brotzman, Todd's sister. A former rebellious punk, Amanda has now mellowed down but not of her own free will, instead sidelined because of a genetic disorder. She shares a deep connection with her brother, who will be played by Elijah Wood.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is written by Max Landis, working off Douglas Adams' cult-favorite novel. It follows the story of Dirk Gently, a "hyperactive, absurdist, eponymous detective," who goes on bizarre adventures with his reluctant assistant Todd to solve insane mysteries.
"Dirk Gently is a very original series, fresh and unlike anything else. The novels have legions of fans, and with Max Landis' brilliant and audacious take on this material, we are excited to bring Dirk to life for our BBCA super-fans," said Sarah Barnett, BBC America president.
Gently, to be played by Samuel Barnett, heading for America actually matches the storyline that Adams had reportedly cooked up in drafts for a novel he was working on before his untimely death.
Landis read the Dirk Gently books as a teenager, crediting Adams' work as one of his inspirations to be a writer. He was so excited to be part of the project that he wrote the pilot on spec and the summaries for nine more episodes that would make up the BBCA adaptation's first season.
"It was only after the fact that they told me I'm supposed to do that in a room with five other writers," he said.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency will be co-produced by IDW Entertainment, Ideate Media and AMC Studios and produced by Circle of Confusion. Aside from being the series writer, Landis is also on-board as executive producer. He will be joined by Ideate's Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David; IDW's David Ozer and Ted Adams; and Circle of Confusion's Rick Jacobs and David Alpert.
Before becoming the female lead for Dirk Gently, Marks appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man, Awkward and The Real O'Neals, in which she currently has a recurring role.
