Jonathan Tucker (American Hostage), Amin Joseph (Snowfall), Ethan Suplee (The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh), and Derek Luke (Michael) have inked deals for roles as main cast in Southern Bastards, the recently announced Hulu drama pilot from director/executive producer Reinaldo Marcus Green, with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Nickel Boys) coming aboard as a guest star.

The actors join an ensemble led by Kevin Bacon, Erin Kellyman, and Tim McGraw in this adaptation of the the award-winning graphic novel series by Jason Aaron & Jason Latour. The show follows a tenacious military vet (Kellyman) into Craw County, Alabama, in search of her estranged father (Bacon). What she finds is a murderous hornet’s nest of organized crime run by the winningest high school football coach (McGraw) in the South.

Tucker will play the muscled and linebacker lean Esaw Goings, who’s vexed by undiagnosed CTE from his playing days. An Assistant Coach for Craw County High School’s football team, he’s also Coach Boss’ (McGraw) go-to enforcer— the “chief leg breaker” who does the dirty work that keeps Boss’ local empire afloat. Status-hungry and hot-headed, he’s ultimately an obedient foot soldier with absolute loyalty to Boss.

Joseph plays Hardy Whitworth, a former star football player whose blown knee kept him from fulfilling NFL dreams. He’s now the Sheriff of Craw County — though he mostly acts as a puppet playing the role that Coach Boss needs him to play. He’s capable of decency and has a professional and friendly demeanor — but he’s been morally corrupted by his willingness to cover up the violent crimes that occur under his watch. Hopes to one day recapture some version of his glory days.

Suplee plays Eugene “Materhead” Maples, a former offensive lineman. More of a sidekick than a mastermind, he is loyal to his fellow assistant football coach Esaw Goings, and also helps Esaw as an enforcer for Boss’ organized crime ring. He shows hints of a conscience, but for now he’s a true team player in this criminal enterprise.

Luke plays Uncle Lou, who is sharp, charismatic, and singularly focused on monetizing his nephew and star football player Demetrius’ talent. A former tour manager with hustler instincts, he views football as both opportunity and business. Protective and pragmatic, he intends to control the money so his nephew can focus on the game, unfazed by Coach Boss’ stature.

Ellis-Taylor plays Vernetta, Roberta’s assertive but worried mother. Indignant that the military would treat her daughter this way, she urges her to reach out to her father for help in her situation, unfazed by Roberta’s attempts to deflect. She succeeded in putting as much distance as she could between herself and Craw County, until her daughter’s journey of vengeance draws her back to her hometown.

Southern Bastards hails from Onyx Collective, POV Entertainment, and Proximity Media, in association with Fifth Season. Sharing story credit with Nia DaCosta, Ozark’’s Bill Dubuque penned the teleplay and is exec producing alongside Matt Olmstead, who will also serve as showrunner, as well as Aaron, Latour, and Green. Other EPs include Layne Eskridge of POV Entertainment, and Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler of Proximity Media. Simone Harris of Proximity Media and Kate Barry of POV are co-EPs, with Proximity’s creative executives Hannah Baker and D’Angelo Louis also set to oversee the project.

An Independent Spirit Award nominee, Tucker will next be seen starring in Harlan Coben’s Netflix thriller series I Will Find You and MGM+’s American Hostage with Jon Hamm. He is repped by Paradigm, Entertainment 360, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

Joseph starred in FX’s Snowfall and has more recently been seen in TriStar’s comedy One of Them Days. Next up, he’ll be seen playing boxer Sonny Liston in Prime Video’s series The Greatest on Muhammad Ali. He is repped by Entertainment 360, Gersh, and Fox Rothschild.

Recent credits for Suplee include films like Let’s Start a Cult and Babylon, along with Prime Video’s series The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh. He is repped by Paradigm, Nicole Garcia Management, and Dan Fox of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

Best known for playing the titular role in Denzel Washington’s film Antwone Fisher, Luke’s last decade has included roles in shows like The Purge, 13 Reasons Why and Rogue, as well as films like American Refugee and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, where he plays Johnnie Cochran. He is repped by Gersh, Link Entertainment, and HillTop Entertainment.

Oscar-nominated for King Richard, Ellis-Taylor has most recently been seen in films like Nickel Boys, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, The Deliverance, and Exhibiting Forgiveness. Her upcoming slate includes the crime thriller series Lucky with Anya Taylor-Joy, which premieres on Apple TV on July 15, among other projects. She is repped by CAA and TMT Entertainment Group.