Taylor Kitsch has joined "The Normal Heart," according to Entertainment Weekly.
The "Fright Night Lights" alum will appear in Ryan Murphy's HBO movie adaptation of Larry Kramer's Tony-winning play, which tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early '80s.
In "The Normal Heart," Kitsch will play Bruce Niles, "a closeted banker who becomes a big-time AIDS activist," Deadline reports. The role was originated by David Allen Brooks and revived by "Pushing Daisies" star Lee Pace.
The "Friday Night Lights" alum joins the impressive "Normal Heart" cast, which includes Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer and ...
In more casting news ...
Jim Parsons will revive his "Normal Heart" role. The "Big Bang Theory" star made his Broadway debut as gay activist Tommy Boatwright in the 2011 revival and will bring back the role in Ryan Murphy's HBO movie version. [Deadline]
Dermot Mulroney will return to "New Girl." The so-called "Fancy Man" will be back on the Fox comedy's current second season in April, "throwing a wrench in Jess and Nick's inevitable -- yet controversial! -- union." [Vulture]
DJ Qualls is heading back to TNT. The former "Memphis Beat" actor will guest-star on Season 2 of "Perception" as FBI Agent Rudy Fleckner, "a young, tech-savvy investigator who specializes in cybercrimes." In Qualls' episode, a new online social game comes to the forefront of a homicide case, leading Dr. Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack) to call on Fleckner. [TV Guide]