First Cast Photos from WGN America’s Salem

Steve Barton |

Jan 10, 2014

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First Cast Photos from WGN America's Salem We’ve seen a few spooky teasers for WGN America’s upcoming witches’ brew known as “Salem,” and now we have the first look at cast members Shane West and Ashley Madekwe in character as war veteran John Alden and a powerful witch’s accomplice, respectively.

“Salem,” slated to premiere in spring 2014, explores what really fueled the town’s infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth behind them.

Created, executive produced, and written by award-winning writer/producer Brannon Braga (“24,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Voyager,” and “Enterprise”) and Adam Simon (The Haunting in Connecticut), “Salem” launches WGN America’s strategy to become a dedicated purveyor of innovative scripted fare.

“Salem” stars Shane West (“Nikita,” “ER”) as handsome, hardened war veteran John Alden; Janet Montgomery (“Human Target,” “Made in Jersey”) as the ruthless but vulnerable Mary Sibley, Salem’s most powerful enchantress – and Alden’s onetime love interest; Seth Gabel (“Fringe”) as local aristocrat Cotton Mather who fans the flames of Salem’s witch hunt; Ashley Madekwe (“Revenge”) as Mary’s mysterious, carnal accomplice; Xander Berkeley (“Nikita,” “The Mentalist”) as chief politician Magistrate Hale; Tamzin Merchant (Jane Eyre) as the forthright Anne Hale, an artist with a perilous attraction to Alden; and Elise Eberle (The Astronaut Farmer) as the mysteriously afflicted Mercy Lewis.

In “Salem” witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem. The show, which centers on an epic romance wrapped around this explosive revelation, delivers a bold new vision of Salem – and an even bolder new vision of witches.