Mary McDonnell, the two-time Oscar nominee celebrated for her turns in Dances With Wolves and Passion Fish, is set for a busy slate with roles in both Marvel Television’s upcoming Vision series and the survival thriller One Second After, as per a report on The Hollywood Reporter.
In One Second After, directed by Scott Rogers, McDonnell will play Jen — the sharp, protective mother-in-law of John (Josh Holloway). The character becomes a pillar of strength as she helps care for John’s daughters after an electromagnetic pulse devastates the United States and plunges society into chaos. Rogers’ film, which begins shooting this month in Sofia, Bulgaria, is based on William R Forstchen’s 2009 best-selling novel. The adaptation is penned by J Michael Straczynski (Sense8, Babylon 5) and produced by MPI Original Films and Startling Inc., with Rob Pfaltzgraff, Nick Reid, and Matt Kennedy among the producers. Holloway and Hannah John-Kamen have also joined the cast.
McDonnell’s involvement in Marvel’s Vision series remains under wraps, with her role yet to be revealed. The Disney+ project, which wrapped filming over the summer, comes from WandaVision creator Terry Matalas and features Paul Bettany reprising his role as the android Vision, alongside James Spader returning as Ultron. A premiere date has not yet been set.
Rogers, who makes his directorial debut with One Second After, has a background as a stunt coordinator and second unit director on titles like John Wick: Chapter 4 and Tron: Ares.
Beyond her Oscar-nominated work, McDonnell is widely recognised for a career spanning film and television, with credits including Independence Day, Donnie Darko, Sneakers, and Scream 4. On the small screen, she has led or appeared in acclaimed series such as Battlestar Galactica, Major Crimes, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Grey’s Anatomy. Her performances have earned her multiple Emmy nominations for The Closer and ER.
