Giancarlo Esposito Joins Cast of Baz Luhrmann's Netflix Music Drama

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Giancarlo Esposito is the latest to join Baz Luhrmann's upcoming Netflix music drama THE GET DOWN.

Giancarlo will take on the role of "Pastor Ramon Cruz, the charismatic head of the local Pentecostal church who attracts a flock of followers with his fiery sermons and firm, steady leadership. Pastor Cruz is the father of Mylene Cruz (Herizen Guardiola), whose dreams of disco stardom often put her at odds with her dad. He is also the brother of Francisco Cruz aka "Papa Fuerte" (Jimmy Smits).

Previously announced cast members include Jaden Smith, Jimmy Smits ("Francisco Cruz" aka "Papa Fuerte"), Herizen Guardiola ("Mylene Cruz"), Justice Smith ("Ezekiel"), Shameik Moore ("Shaolin Fantastic"), Skylan Brooks ("Ra Ra"), Tremaine Brown, Jr. ("Boo Boo"), Yahya Abdul-Mateen ("Cadillac") and Mamoudou Athie ("Grandmaster Flash").

The Get Down will focus on 1970s New York City - broken down and beaten up, violent, cash strapped -- dying. Consigned to rubble, a rag-tag crew of South Bronx teenagers are nothings and nobodies with no one to shelter them - except each other, armed only with verbal games, improvised dance steps, some magic markers and spray cans. From Bronx tenements, to the SoHo art scene; from CBGBs to Studio 54 and even the glass towers of the just-built World Trade Center, The Get Down is a mythic saga of how New York at THE BRINK of bankruptcy gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco -- told through the lives and music of the South Bronx kids who changed the city, and the world...forever.

Luhrmann, will direct the first two episodes and the season finale and serve as executive producer. The series is also executive produced by Catherine Martin, Paul Watters, Thomas Kelly, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Shawn Ryan and Marney Hochman.

The 13-episode music-driven drama from Sony Pictures Television will debut in all Netflix territories in 2016.

Photo by Walter McBride

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