Giancarlo Esposito joins The Get Down in first exciting news about The Get Down
Ever since it was announced back in February, Baz Luhrmann’s new Netflix show The Get Down has been laying down a steady stream of casting notices in an effort to build up interest in the project, a fictionalized re-telling of the history of punk and hip-hop in ’70s New York. But while some announcements have been met with mild approval—hey, Jimmy Smits—and others less so—hey, Jaden Smith—the show’s cast of mostly young newcomers hasn’t managed to generate much name recognition or passion. That might be about to change, though, as certified A.V. Club hero and Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito has signed on to the project, playing a fiery preacher who’s the brother of Smits’ well-connected political boss.