The Rookie, Raising Kanan, From Elisabeth Moss to the Power Universe: TV’s Biggest Casting Moves

The television landscape is currently shifting faster than a streaming service’s subscription price. From high-stakes legal maneuvers in Silicon Valley to the grit of 1990s Jamaica, Queens, the casting gods have been busy. Whether it’s Emmy darling Elisabeth Moss finding a new way to be stressed out or the Power universe expanding yet again, the upcoming slate of shows is looking more crowded than a network executive’s therapist’s waiting room.

At The TV Cave, we’ve been digging through the development piles to bring you the definitive look at the casting news that actually matters. Here is the lowdown on the pilots, spinoffs and final seasons that will be dominating your DVR in 2026.

Elisabeth Moss Goes from Gilead to the Courtroom in ‘Conviction’

Hulu is clearly not ready to let go of its golden goose. With The Handmaid’s Tale finally wrapping its legendary run, Elisabeth Moss is staying put at the streamer for Conviction. Based on Jack Jordan’s pulse-pounding 2023 novel, the series follows Neve Harper, a defense attorney who finds herself in the middle of a blackmail plot that makes her previous dystopian trauma look like a spa day.

The real draw here, aside from Moss’s uncanny ability to act with just her left pupil, is the creative team. House creator David Shore is at the helm, and veteran producer Warren Littlefield is back in the mix. If Shore brings even half of the cynical wit he gave Hugh Laurie, Conviction could be the procedural of the year when it starts filming in New York this June. It’s a legal thriller where the protagonist is forced to commit crimes to win her case—finally, a lawyer show that admits everyone is probably lying.

‘The Rookie: North’ Rounds Out Its Squad

Apparently, there are still people in North America who haven't been cast as a police officer yet. ABC’s The Rookie: North—the Vancouver-set spinoff of the Nathan Fillion flagship has officially filled out its series regular roster. Jay Ellis (Insecure) was already locked in as Alex Holland, a man who joins the Pierce County Police Department after his life is dismantled by a home invasion.

The new recruits joining Ellis include Froy Gutierrez, Janet Montgomery, and Karen Fukuhara. It’s a solid, photogenic ensemble tasked with making "Canadian policing" look as high-octane as its Los Angeles counterpart. Filming kicks off in late February, and while we’re skeptical of how many "oldest rookies" one franchise can handle, the chemistry of this cast suggests ABC is betting big on another long-running procedural hit.

Silicon Valley Gets the ‘The Good Wife’ Treatment in ‘Cupertino’

Robert and Michelle King are back at CBS, which means we’re getting smart people talking fast in expensive suits. Cupertino is the Kings’ latest venture into the "legal drama with a brain" subgenre, focusing on a David-vs-Goliath battle in the heart of the tech world.

The newest addition to the firm is Nik Dodani (Atypical), who joins a heavyweight cast featuring Mike Colter and Rachel Keller. Dodani plays Vik, a coder who becomes a catalyst for the central conflict after his tech employer turns on him. Knowing the Kings, this won't just be a show about lawsuits; it’ll be a satirical takedown of the "move fast and break things" culture. Expect sharp dialogue, questionable ethics, and at least one scene where someone explains a blockchain to a confused judge.

A New Madam Enters the Final Chapter of ‘Raising Kanan’

As Power Book III: Raising Kanan prepares for its fifth and final season, Starz is adding some serious prestige to the mix. Leslie Grossman, the undisputed queen of Ryan Murphy’s troupe, has been cast as Florence "Flossie" Siegel.

Grossman’s Flossie is a Manhattan madam with mob ties, which is essentially the role Grossman was born to play. She brings a layer of polished grit to a show that has already perfected the art of the 90s period piece. With the series concluding to make room for the Power: Origins prequel, Grossman’s inclusion ensures that Kanan Stark’s final steps toward villainy will be paved with high-end crime and impeccable wardrobe choices.

The Verdict

The current casting cycle proves that while the platforms change, our appetite for "complicated people in high-pressure jobs" remains eternal. From the tech-bro battlegrounds of Cupertino to the blackmail-fueled halls of justice in Conviction, there is plenty of drama on the horizon to keep us from actually having to go outside.

Keep your eyes on The TV Cave for more updates, trailers, and the inevitable "who wore it better" police uniform comparisons. Which of these shows are you most likely to binge-watch in a single weekend? Let us know in the comments.