Jamie Bell, best known for his starring role in the celebrated film Billy Elliot has signed on to star in AMC’s new period drama pilot, Turn. The Revolutionary War set drama is based on Alexander Rose’s book Washington Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring. Set in 1778, Turn, tells the story of Abe Woodhull, a New York farmer who, along with some childhood friends, forms the Culper Ring, a group of unlikely spies who greatly influence America’s struggle for independence. Meegan Warner had previously been cast as Abe’s wife Mary.The pilot is written by Nikita creator and producer Craig Silverstein and executive produced by Barry Josephson (Bones, Enchanted).
Over at NBC, Gillian Anderson has signed onto co-star on a drama pilot by writer and executive producer Rand Ravich. Rachel Taylor has also been cast in the pilot. The untitled project follows a Secret Service agent who is thrown into an international crisis when the president’s son is taken hostage along with several of his classmates. Taylor will play Susie Dunn, an FBI agent dealing with the case, whose daughter, Amber, is one of the kidnapped and Anderson will play Susie’s sister who has been raising Amber as her own. If the show were to be picked up it will mark Anderson’s first regular US series role since The X-Files. Anderson will also be seen in a recurring role in NBC’s upcoming series Hannibal.
