Alexander Skarsgard to Play Man in Black in CBS All Access’ The Stand

CBS All Access’ adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand has reportedly cast its Man in Black with Alexander Skarsgard. Collider reports that the True Blood star will play Randall Flagg in their upcoming miniseries based on the famous King novel, joining a cast that includes James Marsden (Stu Redman), Amber Heard (Nadine Cross), Odessa Young (Frannie Goldsmith), and Henry Zaga (Nick Andros), Whoopi Goldberg (Mother Abigail), Jovan Adepo (Larry Underwood), Owen Teague (Harold Lauder), Brad William Henke (Tom Cullen), and Daniel Sunjata (Cobb).

This makes the second Skarsgard to star as a Stephen King villain, as Alexander joins his brother Bill in that category. Bill Skarsgard of course is currently on movie screens as Pennywise the Clown in It: Chapter Two. King noted on The View on Wednesday that he is writing the tenth and final episode of the series, which will feature a new coda to the story.

The Stand takes place amidst and in the aftermath of a disease kills off 99% of the planet’s population. New alliances and communities emerge in the aftermath, most notably a peaceful safe haven led by the saintly Mother Abagail and a wild, lawless city ruled by the demonic Flagg. Josh Boone co-wrote the majority of the series with Ben Cavell and will executive produce and direct. The series debuts in 2020 on the streaming service.