‘Smash’s’ Raza Jaffrey to Star in ABC’s ‘Gothica’

Smash alum Raza Jaffrey is the first actor cast in the pilot for ABC’s supernatural soap Gothica.

Jaffrey will play Harker, a detective searching for the truth who may be susceptible to influence and political pressure from a powerful man in the city of Gothica.

The series, from Mark Gordon, is a sexy gothic soap set in the present day that weaves together a mythology that incorporates the legends of Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray, among others. Matt Lopez (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) is penning the script, to be directed by Anand Tucker.

Jaffrey is coming off a stint on NBC’s musical drama Smash. He played Dev, Karen’s cheating boyfriend during the first season. As part of the series’ creative overhaul, it was announced that the character would not return as a regular for season two. The actor’s expected to appear in at least one episode of the new season to wrap up his storylines.