Hood, Texas; Series Will Premiere Globally Later This Year on National Geographic

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Geographic today announced the cast for the global scripted event series based on Martha Raddatz’s New York Times best-seller, The Long Road Home. Two-time Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kelly (“House of Cards,” “Taboo”) has been cast as Lt. Col. Gary Volesky, the battalion commander who leads a daring rescue operation when the 1st Cavalry Division comes under attack by Iraqi insurgents.

Emmy-nominated actor Jason Ritter (“Parenthood,” “Girls”) has been cast as Capt. Troy Denomy, who leads the rescue convoys into the city following the dramatic ambush of a 1st Cavalry Division Platoon and is a devoted family man with a wife and newborn son. E.J. Bonilla (“Unforgettable”) portrays Lt. Shane Aguero, leader of the ambushed men. Kate.@NatGeoChannel reveals cast for global scripted event series based on NY Times best-seller #TheLongRoadHome

On the director front, just announced are Emmy-winners Phil Abraham (“Daredevil,” “Mad Men,” “Orange Is the New Black”) and Mikael Salomon (“SIX,” “Band of Brothers”). Abraham and Salomon will join the creative team of executive producers Mike Medavoy, Jason Clark, Mikko Alanne, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn. Alanne (“The 33”) adapted the book for television and will serve as showrunner.

Over eight episodes, The Long Road Home will relive a heroic fight for survival during the Iraq War, when the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood was ferociously ambushed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad — a day that came to be known in military annals as “Black Sunday.” The event series will cut