Tony Winner John Benjamin Hickey & Daniel Stern Land Leading Roles in WGN America Drama Manhattan

Tony winner John Benjamin Hickey is set to star in the upcoming WGN America 13-episode series Manhattan, according to Deadline.com. Hickey will take on the leading role of Frank Winter, a genius and self-destructive physics professor who's tapped to help lead the Manhattan Project. Broadway alum Daniel Stern will co-star in the show.

Written by Sam Shaw and directed by Thomas Schlamme, Manhattan is set during the mission to build the world’s first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and follows the brilliant but flawed scientists and their families. Stern plays Glen Babbit, a mentor to the younger physicists working on the Manhattan Project who navigates the political minefield of Los Alamos. The cast also includes Fresh Face Rachel Brosnahan, Ashley Zuckerman and Harry Lloyd.

Hickey received a Tony Award for his turn in the 2011 revival of The Normal Heart. His other Broadway credits include Mary Stuart, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Cabaret and The Crucible. Hickey's film and TV credits include The Good Wife, Hannibal, The Big C, The New Normal, Pitch Perfect, Freedom Writers and Flags of Our Fathers.

Stern made his Broadway debut in MTC's production of The Other Place, but departed the production early due to personal family matters. He is well known for his roles in such movies as Home Alone, City Slickers and Diner. On TV, he narrated the iconic series The Wonder Years.