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Stephen Gaghan is the Oscar-winning screenwriter responsible for penning Steven Soderbergh’s Drug War drama Traffic, as well as the true story-inspired oil industry drama-thriller Syrianna (which he also directed). Gaghan developed the pilot for an La crime series titled S.I.L.A. last year, but his next major undertaking looks to be the feature-length crime-thriller, Candy Store.

The filmmaker began his career squeezing new life out of pulpy material, with his writing work on the television series New York Undercover and American Gothic, as well as the Katie Holmes thriller Abandon (Gaghan also directed the latter). Candy Store reads as a marriage between Gaghan’s crime genre exercises and his more recent politically-charged efforts, judging by insider descriptions.

Lionsgate is planning to back Candy Store, but the project is only in the preliminary stages of development right now. ...

Click to continue reading Brad Pitt & Denzel Washington Circling ‘Traffic’ Writer’s Crime...

Stephen Gaghan has inked a pod deal with Fox 21, the production company behind the Showtime hit "Homeland." As part of the two-year deal, "Syriana" director Gaghan will develop cable shows, as well as supervise other writers. Also read: Jimmy Smits Cast in Stephen Gaghan's "S.I.L.A" Gaghan's small-screen credits include the NBC pilot "S.I.L.A.," which starred Jimmy Smits.   Related Articles:  Jimmy Smits Cast in Stephen Gaghan's 'S.I.L.A.'...

Meet the new cast members of "Law & Order: Svu" -- former "Cold Case" regular Danny Pino and "Chase" star Kelli Giddish.

Pino will step into the shoes vacated by Christopher Meloni, who left the show last month after 12 seasons. Giddish, meanwhile, will fill in for Mariska Hargitay, who's reducing the number of episodes she's appearing in this season.

Both actors are coming off other NBC projects. Giddish starred in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced "Chase" last season, and she's also guest-starred on both "Svu" and "L&O: Criminal Intent" in the past. Pino was one of the stars of the network's drama pilot "Metro" (aka "S.I.L.A."), which wasn't picked up for 2011-12. He also appeared on a couple episodes of USA's "Burn Notice" last year.

 

"I'm very pleased that we have two amazing actors joining the cast," "Svu" creator Dick Wolf says. "I know this combination will give us the opportunity...

After spending untold amounts of cash on hundreds of dramas and comedies — most of which will never make it to your living rooms — the five broadcast networks will begin announcing in New York next week which projects are good enough to earn a coveted fall pickup. (NBC and Fox will present their fall schedule to advertisers on Monday, followed by ABC on Tuesday, CBS on Wednesday and the CW on Thursday).

Buzz is already strong for several projects (for more on the hot ones, click here). But every year, we always wonder what diamond-in-the-rough was left on the cutting room...

And they’re off! Casting is all but completed and production has already begun on scores of pilots for the five broadcast networks. But not every comedy and drama will go the distance. Which project has the right stuff? What pilot already has you feeling like you popped a Lunesta? Check out the mammoth slate for fall consideration. (And remember, all projects are whittled down in late April/early May before the nets present their fall slates to advertisers in New York):

CBS

The Doctor (Rina Mimoun, David Nutter). A mother (Christine Lahti) reconnects with her adult children when...

Jimmy Smits has apparently gotten over NBC canceling his show "Outlaw" earlier this season, because he's back at the network in a new drama project.

Smits will play the mayor of Los Angeles in a pilot from "Traffic" and "Syriana" writer Stephen Gaghan, Deadline reports. The show was formerly called "S.I.L.A." (which stood for Special Investigations Los Angeles), but that name has been shelved for now.

Like "Traffic" and "Syriana," Gaghan's pilot will follow multiple characters; it's set in the overlapping worlds of police work and politics and Los Angeles. It also stars Noah Emmerich ("White Collar," "Little Children") as the head of the city's special investigations unit, along with Madchen Amick ("Damages," "My Own Worst Enemy"), Daniella Alonso ("My Generation") and Danny Pino ("Cold Case").

A couple other bits of casting news:

Damon Wayans has been tapped to star in a CBS comedy based on the life of Espn Radio host Colin Cowherd.

If you hated NBC’s Outlaw but loved the star, this should come as good news: Jimmy Smits will headline the Peacock’s drama pilot from Stephen Gaghan. He’ll play Los Angeles Mayor Alfonso Morales in the project that’s set in the world of crime, law enforcement, and politics in modern-day Los Angeles. The pilot was previously known as Special Investigations L.A.

Jimmy Smits: Why can’t the beloved TV actor catch a break in prime time?

NBC completes pilot orders, goes big and loud with projects (See: Wonder Woman, Prime Suspect, Smash and Grimm)...

Jimmy Smits has been tapped as the last major lead in NBC’s untitled Stephen Gaghan pilot (formerly S.I.L.A.), a complex ensemble drama in the style of Traffic and Syriana set in the world of crime, law enforcement and politics in sprawling modern-day Los Angeles.

The pilot centers on Los Angeles Mayor Mayor Alfonso Morales (Smits) and his Special Investigations Unit led by detective Terry Mullins (Noah Emmerich), who has returned to La to reconnect with his 15-year-old daughter Jennifer (Emma Dumont) and try to get along with his ex-wife and Jennifer’s mother, high-powered attorney Mary McCarthy (Madchen Amick...

Jimmy Smits has been tapped as the last major lead in NBC's untitled Stephen Gaghan drama pilot (formerly S.I.L.A.), a complex ensemble drama in the style of Traffic and Syriana set in the world of crime, law enforcement and politics in sprawling modern-day Los Angeles. The pilot, from 20th TV, Chernin Entertainment and Gaghan's Unsupervised, centers on Los Angeles Mayor Alfonso Morales (Smits) and his Special Investigations Unit led by detective Terry Mullins (Noah Emmerich), who has returned to La to re-connect with his 15-year-old daughter Jennifer (Emma Dumont) and try to get along with his ex-wife, high-powered attorney Mary McCarthy (Madchen Amick). Morales is described as a man full of ambition who cares deeply about his city, power and women, perhaps in reverse order. Smits was the first actor approached by Gaghan for the pilot. The NYPD Blue alum had originally planned to sit this pilot season out but...

Jimmy Smits has been cast as the mayor of Los Angeles in Stephen Gaghan's NBC drama pilot "S.I.L.A." The actor, who also starred in NBC's short-lived "Outlaw," plays a mayor with aspirations to run for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's seat -- but who may be undone by a reputation for womanizing and ties to a criminal overlord. Also read: Get the Lowdown on Every Single Network Pilot The show is similar in structure to "Traffic," for which Gaghan won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. It examines Los Angeles from the persective of...

This is the full list of NBC pilots for the fall 2011 season. Any new additions/updates will be in bold. S.I.L.A. (Special Investigations L.A.) Format: One-Hour Drama Network: NBC Studio: 20th Century Fox Television ProdCo: Chernin Entertainment Producers: Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, Stephen Gaghan Writer: Stephen Gaghan Director: Stephen Gaghan Logline: In the vein of "Traffic," this complex drama is set in the world of crime, law enforcement and politics in modern-day Los Angeles. Cast: Noah Emmerich as “Mullins” Danny Pino as “Romero” Daniella Alonso as “Daniela” Matthew Levy as “Max” Madchen Amick as “Mary” Luis Chavez as “Manny” Untitled...

Noah Emmerich is set to star in Stephen Gaghan's pilot for NBC S.I.L.A., a complex ensemble drama in the style of  Traffic and Syriana set in the world of crime, law enforcement and politics in sprawling modern-day Los Angeles. Also cast in the pilot, from 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment, is Emma Dumont. Working in Mayor Virgilio Zaragoza's Special Investigations Unit, detective Terry Mullins (Emmerich) has returned to Los Angeles to re-connect with his 15-year-old daughter Jennifer (Dumont) and try to get along with his ex-wife and Jennifer's mother, high-powered attorney Mary McCarthy (Madchen Amick). Emmerich, repped by Gersh and Brillstein Entertainment, recently did arcs on USA's White Collar and AMC's The Walking Dead. He will next be seen in J.J. Abrams' Super 8. Amanda Loncar and Sean Maguire have landed lead roles in NBC's comedy pilot Lovelives. The multi-camera comedy, from 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment, revolves...

Madchen Amick has landed a starring role in NBC’s drama pilot S.I.L.A.

The Gersh-repped Twin Peaks actress has had recurring roles on Damages, Gossip Girl, and Californication in recent years.

S.I.L.A is from Stephen Gaghan, who wrote Traffic, and is described as a similarly complex drama that deals with crime, law enforcement, and politics in Los Angeles.

The latest round of pilot casting includes a familiar face returning to CBS, Fox casting a lead in "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" and NBC adding three actors to its "Prime Suspect" pilot.

These updates come courtesy of Deadline Hollywood, which, we must admit, has pretty much been owning the casting news this pilot season. Here's the rundown:

- Former "Without a Trace" star Poppy Montgomery is returning to CBS in a drama pilot from one of that show's exec producers, Ed Redlich, and co-writer John Bellucci. She'll play an NYPD detective who's blessed/cursed with the ability to remember absolutely everything.

- Jaime Pressly will star opposite Katie Finneran in Fox's comedy "I Hate My Teenage Daughter." The "My Name Is Earl" Emmy winner will play a mom who fears she's raising a Mean Girl.

- "Prime Suspect" has added Kirk Acevedo ("Fringe"), Joe Nieves ("How I Met Your Mother...

Cold Case alum Danny Pino has become the first actor cast in Stephen Gaghan's pilot for NBC S.I.L.A., a complex drama in the style of  Traffic and Syriana set in the world of crime, law enforcement and politics in sprawling modern-day Los Angeles. The project, from 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment, centers on detective Terry Mullins, who works in L.A. Mayor's Special Investigations Unit. He is partnered with Douglas Romero (Pino), a 3rd generation Angelino and a great surfer. Pino, repped by Icm and manager Geordie Frey, was approached for several pilots this season. Little known Beth Behrs beat out several established young actresses to land the lead opposite Kat Dennings in CBS' multicamera comedy pilot Two Broke Girls, co-written and executive produced by former Sex and the City showrunner Michael Patrick King and comedian Whitney Cummings. The project, from Warner Bros., centers on two girls from very...

In a series of stories, I'll take an analytical look at the current broadcast pilot season and some of its trends and heroes. In what was probably the last big pilot director signing this season, Jaume Collet-Sera yesterday closed a deal to direct ABC's The River hours before the premiere of his new movie, the Liam Neeson starrer Unknown. It was a fitting end to a pilot director hiring season that was dominated by feature helmers. Among those signed for pilots are Jonathan Demme (CBS' untitled Susannah Grant), Shawn Levy (Fox's Comedy Album), Phillip Noyce (ABC's Revenge), Antoine Fuqua (Fox's Exit Strategy), James Mangold (CBS' Rookies) Michael Apted (ABC's Hallelujah), Eclipse director David Slade (NBC's Rem), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo director Niels Arden Oplev (CBS' Redlich/Bellucci), Mark Romanek (Fox's Locke & Key) and Easy A helmer Will Gluck (Fox's Iceland). Two filmmakers, Stephen Gaghan and Michael Patrick King,...