Casting continues on Fox’s highly anticipated Batman prequel series Gotham.  After setting Ben McKenzie (Southland) in the lead role of James Gordon, the network recently filled roles for The Penguin, Gordon’s boss, and Gordon’s fiancée, and they also set Donal Logue (Sons of Anarchy) in the role of Detective Harvey Bullock.  Now Fox has set another villainous role for the series, as Jada Pinkett Smith has landed the series regular role of Fish Mooney.  The character is described as an imposing and hotheaded sadistic gangster boss and nightclub owner who has “the street smarts and almost extra-sensory abilities to read people like an open book.”  It’s certainly nice to see a female land a major role for once, and I’m interested to see what the actress will bring to the role.  Smith recently starred in the leading role of the TNT series Hawthorne for three seasons, before the show was canceled in 2011.

Gotham was scripted by Bruno Heller (The Mentalist), who will also serve as showrunner.  Fox has already ordered the show to series.  Hit the jump for casting news concerning a The Wire alum joining the second season of Ray Donovan.

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Additionally, Showtime announced today that The Wire and Treme star Wendell Pierce has been set in a recurring role on the upcoming second season of the Showtime series Ray Donovan.  The show takes place in Los Angeles and stars Liev Schreiber as the titular professional fixer, and Pierce will be playing Mr. Keither, a down on his luck parole officer who gets a payoff from Ray.  Also set to guest star on season two are Hank Azaria and Sherilyn Fenn.  Filming on the 12-episode second season is currently underway ahead of a summer premiere on the pay cable network.  Read the press release below.

NEW YORK, NY – (February 19, 2014) – Critically-acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme) will guest star in a recurring role on the second season of the hit SHOWTIME drama series RAY DONOVAN. Pierce will play Mr. Keith, a down on his luck parole officer who gets a payoff from Ray (Emmy and Golden Globe® Award nominee Liev Schreiber). Pierce joins previously announced guest stars Emmy®-winner Hank Azaria, along with actresses Sherilyn Fenn and Vinessa Shaw.  Production on the second season’s 12 episodes is currently underway in Los Angeles and is set for a summer premiere on SHOWTIME.

Wendell Pierce is an Emmy, Obie and Peabody Award-winning actor and Tony® Award-winning producer, most recognized for his portrayal of “Det. ‘Bunk’ Moreland” on the critically-acclaimed series The Wire. He recently wrapped the fourth and final season of Treme, and appeared on The Michael J. Fox Show.  He also continues to host the Peabody Award-winning national radio program, Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, RAY DONOVAN stars Schreiber as LA’s best professional fixer, the man called in to make the city’s celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls’ most complicated and combustible situations go away. This powerful drama unfolds when his father, Mickey Donovan, played by Jon Voight in his Golden Globe-winning role, is unexpectedly released from prison, setting off a chain of events that shakes the Donovan family to its core.  The cast also includes Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Steven Bauer, Katherine Moennig, Pooch Hall, Kerris Dorseyand Devon Bagby.