Two more 'Boardwalk Empire' stars join Michael Shannon in 'Waco'

March 29 (UPI) -- Paul Sparks and Shea Whigham are joining their former Boardwalk Empire co-star Michael Shannon in the new miniseries Waco.

Also confirmed to appear in the six-part drama are Andrea Riseborough and Rory Culkin. Starring Taylor Kitsch and John Leguizamo, the series will be produced by Weinstein Television and is scheduled to air on Paramount Network in 2018.

"We are fired up by this wonderful cast, assembled by Harvey [Weinstein] and the entire Waco team," Ted Gold, senior vice president of scripted original series for Paramount Network, said in a statement. "Each of these actors bring such complexity and authenticity to everything they do and we can't wait to see them in these roles."

Waco is based on the true story of the 51-day standoff between the FBI and ATF, and David Koresh's spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians, in 1993 Texas. It is told from the perspectives of those involved in both sides of the conflict, which ended in a shootout and fire that killed nearly 100 people.

Sparks will play a Koresh confidante in Waco, Whigham will play the tactical commander of the FBI and Shannon will play an FBI negotiator.

In Boardwalk Empire, a Prohibition-era mob drama which ran on HBO 2010-14, Sparks played gangster Mickey Doyle, while Whigham portrayed corrupt state trooper Eli Thompson and Shannon played FBI agent Nelson Van Alden.