[TV] Rainn Wilson To Star In Backstrom For CBS
Posted by Joseph Lee on 03.18.2013
Based on the Swedish book...
Rainn Wilson is set to star in CBS' adaptation of Backstrom, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The table read is set for today after several negotiations.
The pilot will be based on the Swedish book series by criminologist/novelist Leif G.W. Persson. It focuses on an "overweight, offensive, irascible detective as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior."
Wilson will play Detective Everett Backstrom, who was brought back from disgrace to lead Portland's Special Crimes Group, composed of fellow eccentric detectives. He drinks a lot, eats a lot of junk food and always says what's on his mind.
Hart Hanson, creator of Bones, will write and executive produce the pilot with Persson and Niclas Salomonsson. Mark Mylod will direct for 20th Century Fox TV. Dennis Haysbert (24) and Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected) co-star.
Hanson wrote about the announcement yesterday. He wrote: "We got our Backstrom! And wow, he's a corker!"
This comes after NBC passed on The Farm, a spinoff about Wilson's Dwight Schrute from The Office as a beet farmer running a bed and breakfast inn. The episode aired on Thursday to poor critical reviews.
Wilson joins other Office co-stars in getting pilots this season, including Angela Kinsey (Fox's The Gabriels), Ellie Kemper (NBC's Brenda Forever), Craig Robinson (NBC's untitled Owen Elickson/Robinson entry) and David Denman (CBS' Beverly Hills Cop). The series finale will air May 16.
