THE STAND Finds Its Mother Abagail In Whoopi Goldberg

Well, it's been rumored for what feels like months now, but today it's been made official: Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg will star as Mother Abagail in Josh Boone's long-gestating, limited series adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand. It's a stong, if obvious, choice for the role, and we're sure she'll kill it.

That's not the only bit of The Stand casting news today, though: also announced as part of the cast are Jovan Adepo (as musician Larry "Baby, Can You Dig Your Man?" Underwood), Owen Teague (Patrick Hockstetter in IT: Chapter One, he'll be playing the odious Harold Lauder), Brad William Henke (as Tom Cullen) and Daniel Sunjata (as Cobb, a military guy tasked with overseeing James Marsden's Stu Redman). All of the above join a cast which already includes the aforementioned James Marsden, Amber Heard, Odessa Young and Henry Zaga.

You'll note that we still have not learned who'll be playing The Stand's Big Bad, Randall Flagg. That role's gonna be crucial, and we eagerly anticipate finding out who Boone selects for the role. Personally, I'm still holding out hope for Walton Goggins, but who knows if he's even available to film a 10-part limited series right now. Dude seems busy. 

UPDATE: Goggins was busy.

Anyway, stand by for more The Stand casting news as further updates become available.