Written by David Morgan

 

reports that Jon Seda (Close to Home), Ashton Holmes (Smart People), and Rami Malek (Night at the Museum) have joined the cast of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's ten-part miniseries The Pacific. The miniseries is a companion piece to 2001's Band of Brothers, and is based on Eugene Sledge's book With the Old Breed, Robert Leckie's book Helmet for My Pillow, as well as original interviews carried out by the filmmakers and Hugh Ambrose (son of late Band of Brothers writer Steven Ambrose).

 

The three new actors will play supporting roles to the three lead Marines played by James Badge Dale (playing Leckie), Val Lauren, and Joe Mazzello (playing Sledge).

 

The miniseries will begin filming in August and run through the end of the year. No airdate has been set.

 

You would think that with the success of Band of Brothers and with the backing of two of the most powerful men in Hollywood they'd be able to get a slightly better known cast. Even Band of Brothers had Ron Livingston, David Schwimmer and a few other moderately recognizable guys. I tend to be skeptical about flag-waving pro-war movies and miniseries, but Band of Brothers was very well-done and completely compelling, so the sequel should be worth checking out.