Justified alum Nick Searcy has joined the cast of Hulu original event series 11/22/63, from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and author Stephen King. Adapted for television by Bridget Carpenter (The Red Road), 11/22/63 centers on Jake Epping (James Franco), an unassuming divorced English teacher who stumbles upon a time portal that leads to September 9, 1958, and goes on a quest to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, which occurred on November 22, 1963. But his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, his falling in love and the past itself — which doesn’t want to be changed.

Searcy, repped by APA, Haven Entertainment and attorney Todd Rubenstein, will play Deke Simmons, the principal of Jodie High School in small-town 1960s Texas, Deke is Jake Epping’s (Franco) boss in Jake’s cover life. A rangy big-hearted Texan who’s ahead of his time, Deke’s support will prove invaluable if Jake is to survive his incredible mission. Searcy recently wrapped the sixth and final season of FX’s Justified. Feature credits include Moneyball, The Last Song and Cast Away.