Ben Kingsley in Tut

Photo: Agencies

Ben Kingsley has signed on for Spike TV’s upcoming event series Tut, which is slated to premiere next year, Spike’s executive vice president, original series Sharon Levy said.

Gandhi star Kingsley will play Ay, the Grand Vizier to King Tutankhamun who wields tremendous power and influence as the top adviser to the young Egyptian ruler.

Tut, which will be shot on location in Morocco and Canada, will be produced by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys, Being Human). Spike’s first scripted event series in eight years, Tut is another peg in traditionally male-skewing Spike’s ongoing efforts to reach a more gender-balanced audience.

Calling Tut the “biggest and most ambitious project in Spike’s history,” Levy added that the network is “so fortunate” to have Kingsley aboard the project.

“Who better to lead the cast than one of the greatest actors of our generation - Ben Kingsley,” Levy said. “The character he plays, Ay, is the true power behind the Tutankhamun throne. We are so fortunate to have an actor of Ben Kingsley’s stature bring this character to life for Spike.”