ABC's Life in Mars hasn't exactly had a smooth ride to the US. The British show was originally pegged to be remade by superproducer David E. Kelly, who ended up parting with the rights to the show in exchange for a renewal of his other hit, Boston Legal.
The pilot was shot in Los Angeles then ultimately scrapped, along with pretty much the entire cast, save for its lead, Jason O'Mara. The show's new producers then revealed that the show was being moved to New York, where The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli and Harvey Keitel would join the cast.
Now it looks like Life on Mars has found its female lead. Gretchen Mol (3:10 to Yuma) is close to signing on to play the drama's female lead, reports E! Online.
Life on Mars follows a cop (O'Mara) who finds himself transported to 1970s New York, where he struggles to figure out if he's really back in time or just out of his gourd. Mol will play a young policewoman who helps O'Mara's character adjust to his new life.
24 has found a henchman for its new bad guy (Jon Voight). Rory Cochrane, formerly of CSI: Miami, will play the character Greg Seaton, the right-hand man to Jack Bauer's arch-nemesis this season, says TVGuide.com.
Elsewhere, HBO is looking to turn rapper/male diva Kanye West into a television star...somehow, according to EW.com. Details are awfully cloudy at the moment, but word is the network may try and team Kanye up with producer Larry Charles, who works on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Comments (15)
jon voight is great.
"... Sources say the Rory Cochrane character will die in a shootout with Jack Bauer after his weapon misfires for him not cleaning it regulary."
I like Jason O'Mara and all.. but he is too buff for this role. And i'm glad they re-casted Annie. :)
glad to see rory back
Good idea remaking Life. Now how about an American version of Shameless.
For Life on Mars, Gretchen Mol is great -- love her in everything. And for 24, this is wonderful news for us CSI: Miami fans. I knew Rory (aka Speed) would eventually be reborn!
Wow!!! another foreign show remade for US tv. Not eve surprising anymore, maybethey should hhave just leave to die peacefully
I don't think Tommy Schlamme is involved in the current production, but I could be wrong ;)With renowned and award-winning actors Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt and Michael Imperioli as Ray Carling joining Jason on Life of Mars, how could this new series be anything but a huge ratings draw :DOctober 9th can't get here soon enough for this viewer!
<i>Life On Mars</i> has a great producer and director in Tommy Schlommie (ex-The West Wing). The cast also includes Colm Meaney, Lisa Bonet (plays Jason's present day girlfriend), Gretchen Mol (plays Jason's past 1973 girlfriend). Also Jonathan Murphy as DC Skelton (formerly of October Road). I think it's going to be really really good. :)
Doesn't matter who they cast for 24 - the format is getting old. The next storyline will have to be a BIG improvement to draw back viewers.
Never heard of her.
Rory Cochrane will be great! I really hope this season of 24 is great. Not only was the last season that aired so awful it made you want to poke your eyes out, but the writers will have had almost 2 frickin years to plan out all 24 episodes by the time it returns. I hope they made this one season make sense, purposeful, and refreshing because they certainyl should have plotted out all 24 episodes ahead of time this time...because they could.
The one person they NEED to recast is jason omara, that guy stinks as Sam Tyler. Brian Van Holt would be the best possible Sam, this guy has serious range.
DAMN IT! I thought it was something about Veronica Mars
That's a smart move, she's perfect for this sort of thing.