Designated Survivor was created and developed for television by David Guggenheim, who previously found success as a writer for projects such as The Christmas Chronicles, Stolen, and Safe House starring Denzel Washington. The series stars Kiefer Sutherland in the leading role, as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Thomas Kirkman. Other performers who round out the ensemble cast include Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, Maggie Q, LaMonica Garrett, Natascha McElhone, and Kal Penn, who famously took a break from acting to aid Barack Obama’s White House as an associate director of Public Engagement.