David Farnor | On 20, Jun 2015

Giancarlo Esposito will Get Down with Netflix’s upcoming hip-hop drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The publication reports that the actor, known to Breaking Bad fans as Gus Fring, has joined Baz Luhrmann’s musical show.

The director’s first foray into television is set in 1970s New York, where a rag-tag crew of teens are nothings and nobodies with no one to shelter them – except each other.

Armed only with improvised dance steps, some magic markers and spray cans, the series follows the birth of hip-hop, punk and disco 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.

Esposito marks a major piece of adult casting for the show, which has already lined up an ensemble of younger, rising talent, including Jaden Smith as Marcus “Dizzee” Kipling, Jimmy Smits as Francisco Cruz, aka Papa Fuerte, Herizen Guardiola as Mylene Cruz, Justice Smith as Ezekiel, Shameik Moore as Shaolin Fantastic, Skylan Brooks as Ra Ra, Tremaine Brown, Jr. as Boo Boo, Yahya Abdul-Mateen as Cadillac and Mamoudou Athie as Grandmaster Flash.

Giancarlo will play the charismatic Pastor Ramon Cruz, father of Mylene and brother of Francisco.

“Continuing the high quality of our acting company in The Get Down, we’re very pleased to announce that Giancarlo Esposito will be joining us in the role of Pastor Ramon Cruz Giancarlo has played such a variety of roles and he’s a tremendous asset to our production,” Luhrmann is quoted as saying.

The director will helm the first two episodes and finale of the Sony Pictures Television-produced series. Luhrmann also serves as Executive Producer, alongside The Shield’s Shawn Ryan. The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge! costume and production designer Catherine Martin will also reunite with Luhrmann for the project.

The Get Down will premiere on Netflix in all territories in 2016.

Here’s a trailer:

Photo: AMC.com

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