Mekhi Phifer Joins New Torchwood Cast

Mekhi Phifer (Lie To me, ER) has signed on to play a lead character in Torchwood: The New World, according to Deadline.

Phifer will play CIA agent Rex Matheson, “a fast-tracked high-flyer with a lethal sense of humor who starts to feel his mortality when his life is put in danger.”

Phifer joins John Barrowman as the ever popular Captain Jack Harkness, an time traveling ex-con man and Eve Myles, who portrays Gwen Cooper, an ex-police officer.  Another addition to the cast is Arlene Tur (Crash), who will play surgeon Vera Juarez. Rumors are flying that Gwen Cooper’s husband Rhys (played by Kai Owens) and their baby will make an appearance in the new series, but at this point, nothing is confirmed.

The fourth season of the Doctor Who spin-off is a joint production from Starz and the BBC.  According to series creator Russell T. Davies, Torchwood: The New World is not a reboot or a remake,  just “very much the next step. It’s not a new version, it’s not a reboot. We’re simply moving countries.”

Along with the addition of some American blood before the cameras, Davies has tapped some major American TV writing talent to the show in Jane Espenson (Battlestar Galactica, Buffy, Game of Thrones) and John Shiban (Breaking Bad, Supernatural, The X-Files).

Torchwood: The New World will have a 10 episode American run on Starz debuting next summer (with viewers from the UK viewing on BBC). Stay tuned here for further casting details.