cast (someone) in a role

Translations
назначить (кого-то) на роль
The director cast her in a leading role for the new movie.
Режиссер назначил её на главную роль в новом фильме.
Definitions
To assign or select someone to play a particular character or part, especially in a play, movie, or other performance; more generally, to place someone in a specific position or function.