Amy Madigan lands role in Viola Davis’ upcoming thriller series 'Ascent'

Amy Madigan joins Viola Davis and Sam Heughan in 'Ascent', Paramount+'s upcoming thriller series set for 2027

Amy Madigan has joined the cast of Ascent, an upcoming thriller series at Paramount+ starring Viola Davis and Sam Heughan.

The casting brings the Oscar-winning actress to the corporate drama created by John Logan and produced by Paramount Television Studios, Deadline reported.

Madigan will play Rachel, a former executive at Ascent Ventures who has served as a lifelong mentor to Davis’ character, Catriona. The role places her within the series’ world of high-stakes corporate crises, where powerful clients rely on elite specialists to manage reputational and business threats.

Ascent follows Catriona, a highly skilled corporate fixer whose expertise in handling difficult situations is put to the test when her estranged daughter faces danger. She must use the same ruthless abilities that have made her indispensable to billion-dollar clients to confront the threat.

Heughan, known for Outlander, will portray Conal, one of Ascent Ventures’ top agents. Production on the Paramount+ thriller is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles next year.

Logan serves as creator and showrunner and will executive produce alongside Michael Aguilar, Davis and Julius Tennon through JuVee Productions. Paramount Television Studios is producing the series.

Madigan’s casting follows a major career milestone earlier this year, when she won her first Academy Award for playing Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger’s horror film Weapons. The performance also brought increased attention to her upcoming projects.

Her forthcoming credits include Sponsor, an Apple thriller directed by James Ponsoldt and co-starring Jason Segel and John C. Reilly. She is also set to appear in Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot, which has been picked up by Hulu, and the Netflix limited series All the Sinners Bleed.

Madigan has additionally joined The Comebacker, a Sony baseball film starring Tom Hanks. With Ascent, she adds another television thriller to her upcoming slate.