TONY AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS NIKKI M. JAMES JOINS THE CAST OF "BRAINDEAD," A NEW COMIC-THRILLER SET IN THE WORLD OF WASHINGTON, D.C. POLITICS, TO BE BROADCAST IN SUMMER 2016 ON CBS

Series Comes From Robert and Michelle King, Creators and Executive Producers of "The Good Wife"

NEW YORK - Oct. 22, 2015 - Tony Award-winning actress Nikki M. James has joined the cast of "BrainDead," a new comic-thriller set in the world of Washington, D.C. politics, to be broadcast in summer 2016. The series comes from Robert and Michelle King, creators and executive producers of "The Good Wife."

Nikki M. James will play Rochelle, a medical resident whose father died as the result of a mysterious infection. She and Laurel (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) team up to learn what happened to her father, and protect others from the same fate.

"We fell in love with Nikki the first time we saw her in 'The Book of Mormon,'" said executive producers Robert and Michelle King. "Her work on 'The Good Wife' has only increased our admiration, and we couldn't be more excited that she's joining the cast of 'BrainDead.'"

Nikki M. James won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Nabalungi in the hit Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon." She also starred as Eponine in the Broadway revival of "Les Misérables." Her feature film credits include "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," "Lucky Stiff," "All is Bright" and "Caesar and Cleopatra." On television, she will appear in a recurring role on "The Good Wife" this season. She has appeared in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "30 Rock."

As previously announced, Mary Elizabeth Winstead will star as Laurel, a young, fresh-faced Hill staffer whose first job in Washington, D.C. leads her to discover two things: The government has stopped working, and alien spawn have come to earth and eaten the brains of a growing number of Congressmen and Hill staffers. Also, Aaron Tveit will star as Gareth, the Legislative Director to a top Republican senator, who is smart, hard-working, and ultimately responsible for helping to save the world.

"BrainDead" is produced by CBS Television Studios. Robert and Michelle King, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Brooke Kennedy and Liz Glotzer will serve as executive producers for CBS Television Studios, Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions. Judy Smith will serve as co-executive producer.

The series will be distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and worldwide by CBS Studios International.