West Wing Reunion: Sterling K. Brown to Play Leo in HBO Max Special

Two-time Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) will portray White House chief of staff Leo McGarry in HBO Max’s upcoming West Wing reunion special.

John Spencer played the role on the NBC political drama, and won an Emmy along the way, until his death midway through filming the seventh and final season.

People.com first reported on Brown’s casting.

Premiering Thursday, Oct. 15 on the streaming service, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote marks the first time in 17 years that the original cast of the Emmy- and Peabody Award–winning drama series will come together, with creator Aaron Sorkin and executive producer/director Thomas Schlamme, for a theatrical stage presentation of the “Hartsfield’s Landing” episode from Season 3.

Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and Martin Sheen all will reprise their respective roles from the episode.

A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote will also include act breaks with guest appearances from When We All Vote co-chair/former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, President Bill Clinton, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Emmy–winning composer W.G. Snuffy Walden will play the iconic score for The West Wing theme song on his guitar, while the folk rock band The Avett Brothers will close out the special.

More from TVLine

• The Top TV Theme Songs of All Time: 1990s Edition

• This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown Teases an 'Excavation' of Randall's Past in Season 5

• The TVLine-Up: What's Returning, New and Leaving the Week of Oct. 11

Best of TVLine

• TV Roles Recast: 25+ Times a Show Changed Actors Midstream (and Why)

• Stars Who Almost Played Other TV Roles — on Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Friends and Other Shows

• TV Stars Almost Cast in Other Roles

Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter