‘Krypton’ Adds ‘Ray Donovan’s’ Paula Malcomson, ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’ Alum Blake Ritson

“Ray Donovan” star Paula Malcomson and “Da Vinci’s Demons” alum Blake Ritson have joined the cast of Syfy’s “Krypton.”

According to Deadline, Malcomson was cast in the pivotal guest-starring role of Charys, the matriarch of House El who helps her son Seg (Cameron Cuffe) navigate the treacherous pitfalls of their Kryptonian home Kandor. Malcomson did not appear in the series’ pilot, in which Charys was played by another actress.

Ritson, meanwhile, was tapped to play the series regular role Brainiac, a parasitic and hyper-advanced alien android of immense intelligence. In DC lore, Brainiac is one of oldest and most dangerous foes of Seg’s grandson, Superman.

Developed by David S. Goyer and Damian Kindler, “Krypton” is set two generations before the destruction of the titular home planet of the Man of Steel. It follows the story of Seg, the scion of the once-prosperous House of El that’s stripped of its rank after it failed to end tyranny. When the series begins, Seg lives in the planet’s lowest caste and fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his planet from chaos.

“The show really is about the forces trying to destroy the House of El, both good and bad,” DC comics boss Geoff Johns said (via SYFY WIRE) during the show’s panel at the San Diego Comic-Con last July. “But there’s also another house that plays a major role in the past that is integral to the House of El, the House of Zod.”

In addition to Cuffe, Malcomson and Ritson, “Krypton” also stars Georgina Campbell as warrior Lyta Zod; Ian McElhinney as Seg’s grandfather Val-El; Ann Ogbomo as Lyta’s mother Alura Zod; Rasmus Hardiker as Seg’s best friend Kem; Elliot Cowan as Kandor’s chief magistrate Daron-Vex; Wallis Day as Daron’s daughter Nyssa-Vex; Shaun Sipos as Seg’s mentor Adam Strange; and Aaron Pierre as Dev-Em.

Other characters that are confirmed to appear on the show are Seg’s father Ter-El, Hawkwoman, and Black Mercy.

Goyer told Den of Geek last July that they decided to add unexpected characters to the series to make it more exciting especially for DC fans who already know the ins and outs about the Superman’s home planet.

“[‘Krypton’ features] a lot of other characters from the Superman canon, some of which have been linked to Krypton before, some of which haven’t, that are also included,” Goyer said. “[But] there are also some other DC Universe characters that aren’t specifically part of the Superman canon that will play a role. We’re definitely doing some things that I think people won’t expect. We’re making some unexpected additions to this Superman world that I’m excited for audiences to see.”

“Krypton” will premiere on Syfy sometime next year.