LEGENDS OF TOMORROW Season 3 Adds THE PHANTOM Actor Billy Zane As Another Real-Life Historical Figure
We've had J.R.R. Tolkien and George Lucas, and now it's being reported that Billy Zane (The Phantom, Demon Night) has been added to the cast of Legends of Tomorrow as another figure from history.
He was many fans' pick for Lex Luthor back in the day, but now ET reports that Billy Zane (Dead Calm, Demon Night, The Phantom) has joined the DC TV universe as a very different sort of villain.
Zane will play B.T. Barnum in one episode of the upcoming third season of The CW's Legends of Tomorrow.
Barnum was a nineteenth century politician, showman, and businessman, who is remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. According to EP Phil Klemperer, their take on Barnum will play an antagonistic role:
"I’ve wanted to bring Billy onto LEGENDS every since I saw him in a friend’s comedy pilot. I’m not sure that people know how funny Billy is, although we cast him as P.T. Barnum because we knew that he would be able to find the soul beneath the larger-than-life showman. Truth is, Barnum never said ‘there’s a sucker born every minute.’ He was less a conman, more the father of modern advertising. A guy who made things ‘go viral’ before that was a thing. Sure, in one sense, he’s the villain of our story, but in another, he’s just a guy who wants to put on a good show. Anyone who works in TV can relate to that, right?! Anyway, Billy seemed like the perfect guy to get that duality."
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow returns Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET this fall on The CW.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.