Casting News: Amaury Nolasco Joins "The Quickening"

Last month, I couldn’t figure out why Amaury Nolasco unexpectedly dropped out of NBC’s Southland when it seemed like he had nothing else lined up. Now I know. The Hollywood Reporter says that the Prison Break alum has landed a co-leading role opposite Radha Mitchell (Melinda and Melinda) in The Quickening, a drama pilot for A&E (it's a much bigger part than his supporting role as Regina King’s aggressive cop partner on Southland would’ve been).

Quickening centers on Mitchell’s character, Maggie Bird, a homicide detective who’s assigned to a desk job following her diagnosis with bipolar disorder. Nolasco plays a fellow homicide detective who was once married to Maggie and still has feelings for her. The Puerto Rican actor, 38, has spent his entire career playing supporting roles. He probably jumped at the chance to play co-lead. And even though, in all fairness, this project is more Mitchell’s star vehicle than his, Amaury is probably sick of those recurring roles and guest spots.

Someone who doesn’t ever seem to get tired of guest starring on TV shows is Cuban actress Gina Torres, 40. Fresh off her one-episode guest appearance on the CW’s Gossip Girl—you might remember her as Gabrielle Adams, Vanessa’s (Jessica Szohr) badass, progressive mom!—Torres has just signed on to guest on another CW series, the hit freshman drama The Vampire Diaries. Torres, who is best known for her work on Alias, Firefly and Angel, will guest star on the 10th episode of the season (airing in December) as Bree, a witch who interacts with Damon (Ian Somerhandler). In addition to her roles on GG and VD, Torres also recurs on the hit ABC show Flash Forward, playing Stan’s (Courtney B. Vance) wife.

And in other casting news, Cuban actor Carlos Gomez, 47, (Fools Rush In, In the Heights) and Puerto Rican actress Kiele Sanchez, 32 (Related, Lost) have signed on to co-star in the new A&E drama Sugarloaf, says The Hollywood Reporter. The pilot stars Matt Passmore as Jim Longworth, a Chicago cop who is thrown off the force after being shot by his ex-captain, who suspects him of having an affair with his wife. Jim leaves Chicago and moves to a small Florida town where he joins the state police. Gomez plays Jim’s friend and a forensic medical examiner. Sanchez plays Jim’s romantic interest, Callie, a nurse with a 12-year-old son and a husband in prison.

Are you as excited as I am to see Latino stars landing great roles? Sound off in the comments section!