Norman Reedus Joins James Marsden in Disavowed: Apple TV+’s New Action Thriller

The post-Walking Dead era of Norman Reedus’ career is taking a big leap forward. Norman Reedus is the latest to join the series regular cast of Apple TV+‘s Disavowed, the upcoming action-packed thriller created by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway — the writers of Iron Man and Uncharted. Reedus is the first additional cast member announced since the project received its series order.

What Is Disavowed About?

The logline states that it “follows legendary CIA Case Officer Brad Griffin (Marsden), who is abruptly fired in the middle of a global hunt for an elusive assassin responsible for killing his colleague. Disgraced and outcast from the world of intelligence, all bets are off when Brad decides to go after the $15 million federal bounty on the assassin’s head.”

Disavowed is planned as an ongoing series rather than a limited event — a designation that suggests its creators are building a story capable of continuing beyond the initial assassin hunt, provided the first season attracts an audience and Apple TV+ orders additional episodes.

Disavowed: At a Glance

Norman Reedus: What We Know About His Role

Details regarding who Reedus will play are under wraps. It is possible he is playing the assassin whom Brad Griffin is trying to track down, though Reedus has generally played heroes in his career, albeit ones who are rough around the edges.

What is confirmed is that this casting is a significant moment in Reedus’ post-Walking Dead pivot. He was a regular throughout the flagship AMC show’s 11-season run and stars in the spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which will conclude with its fourth season.

Notably, this new series marks a reunion for the two actors, who previously worked together on the 2000 film Gossip.

Cast & Crew

James Marsden as Brad Griffin

Disavowed, which Apple TV+ greenlit in May, stars Marsden — who also executive produces — as Brad Griffin, a CIA case officer who is fired in the middle of a global manhunt for an assassin who killed one of Brad’s colleagues.

Moving from a political thriller into a CIA action story keeps Marsden within suspense-driven television while placing him on the operational side of national security.

The Creative Powerhouse: Marcum & Holloway

This marks the first TV series for Marcum and Holloway, who will executive produce alongside veteran showrunner Tom Spezialy, Marsden, and Blue Marble Pictures’ Theresa Kang and Caroline Garity.

Longtime collaborators Marcum and Holloway wrote Iron Man, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr., and more recently wrote and executive produced Uncharted, directed by Ruben Fleischer and starring Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland. They have also written entries in the Transformers and Men in Black franchises, so they know their way around an action movie.

Michelle MacLaren: Behind the Camera

Marcum and Holloway executive produce with Marsden, Tom Spezialy, Michelle MacLaren — who is directing the first two episodes — Rebecca Hobbs, and Blue Marble Pictures’ Theresa Kang and Caroline Garity.

MacLaren is one of television’s most respected directors, known for helming some of the defining episodes of Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Better Call Saul.

Norman Reedus: What’s Next Beyond Disavowed

Reedus will next be seen in the feature film The Housewife, which is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The actor is currently also in pre-production for the third instalment of the Boondock Saints action movie series, in which he both stars and executive produces.

In film, Reedus is known for starring in features like The Boondock Saints, Blade II, The Bikeriders, and Ballerina. He has also played protagonist Sam Porter Bridges in both Death Stranding video games.

Blue Marble Pictures: A Trusted Apple Partner

Apple Studios is producing Disavowed with Blue Marble Pictures, the company behind the streamer’s praised drama series Pachinko. Their previous success with Apple TV+ makes them a well-matched partner for an ambitious ongoing action series.

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