Naveen Andrews Joins Paramount+’s ‘Last King Of The Cross’ Season 2

EXCLUSIVE: Naveen Andrews has joined the cast of Paramount+‘s Australian drama series Last King of the Cross.

He will play lead antagonist Ray Kinnock in the second season of the show, which tells the story of Sydney nightclub kingpin John Ibrahim (Lincoln Younes) and his brother Sam (Claude Jabbour).

Filming is underway on season 2 in Sydney, as John sights set on capturing a new kingdom — the glittering prize of Oxford Street, Sydney’s nightclub empire.

Andrews will bring to life the fictional character of Ray Kinnock, who is determined to either keep John out, or take him down. The actor is best known for his role on ABC cult drama Lost, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild award along with the rest of the cast. He also appeared in the iconic classic movie The English Patient and, most recently, The Dropout, alongside Amanda Seyfried and is a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominee.

Also joining the show for season two are Luke Arnold (Scrublands, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart) and Matuse (The Fall Guy, Furiosa), who will play Dean Taylor and Benny respectively, two new drug lords hell-bent on bringing their booming trade into John’s clubs.

Paramount Australia’s Creative Advisor Drama, Rick Maier said: “Going up against the Ibrahims on screen is no easy task. Naveen promises to give Lincoln and Claude a run for their money. He’s a brilliant actor, and a fantastic inclusion for series two.

“The addition of Luke and Matuse, only add weight to the feeling that this is the hottest ticket in town for actors keen to join this red hot ensemble. They will be terrific.”

“Naveen is a highly respected and celebrated actor who has captivated audiences with stunning performances in major hits such as Lost, The English Patient, Bride and Prejudice and more recently The Dropout,” added Mark Fennessy from producer Helium Pictures. A massive addition to Last King of The Cross, as our primary antagonist, he brings a delicious mix of cool and class to a diverse and multi-talented cast”.

Last King of The Cross comes from Helium Pictures with Cineflix Rights as the exclusive international distribution partner. The series received major production investment from Paramount Australia in association with Screen Australia and is financed with support from Screen NSW through the Made in NSW fund and Fulcrum Media Finance. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW and Screen Queensland.

Andrews is repped by Gersh.