ABC's 'Flash Forward'

[ALIASd]

Vance, Davenport cast in ABC pilot

'Flash Forward' is based on Sawyer's sci-fi novel

By Nellie Andreeva
The Hollywood Reporter
Dec 2, 2008, 12:00 AM ET


Courtney B. Vance, left, and Jack Davenport (Getty Images photos)

Courtney B. Vance and Jack Davenport are the first actors cast in ABC's hot drama pilot "Flash Forward," which is rumored as a potential companion to "Lost."

"Flash Forward," from David S. Goyer, Brannon Braga and ABC Studios, is based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel and chronicles the chaos that ensues after everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and has a mysterious vision of the future that changes lives forever.

Vance will play Stan Wedeck, the Los Angeles bureau chief of the FBI.

Davenport will play Lloyd Simcoe, who is trapped in Northern California when the event occurs and struggles to reach his son in a Southland hospital.

"Flash Forward," which has a pilot order with a series penalty behind it, will be directed by Goyer. He is executive producing with Braga, Jessika Borsiczky Goyer, Vince Gerardis and Ralph M. Vicinanza.

For six seasons, Vance played assistant district attorney Ron Carver on NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." Vance and his wife, actress Angela Bassett, also are shepherding several projects through their Bassett/Vance Prods., including "Erasure," a feature adaptation of Percival Everett's novel penned by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran.

British native Davenport, who played Norrington in the three "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, most recently starred on CBS' period drama "Swingtown."

Vance, Davenport cast in ABC pilot

[ALIASd]

Two more join ABC pilot

'Flash' picks up Sonya Walger, Christine Woods

By Nellie Andreeva
The Hollywood Reporter
Dec 10, 2008, 12:00 AM ET

Sonya Walger has landed the female lead in ABC's hot drama pilot "Flash Forward," while Christine Woods also has been cast in the project.

Meanwhile, Jessica Collins has joined AMC's untitled political thriller drama pilot.

Based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel, "Flash" chronicles the chaos that ensues after everyone in the world passes out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and has a vision of the future. It centers on newly sober Mark Banford (Joseph Fiennes), an FBI agent who is patching up his life and marriage. Walger will play Mark's wife, Olivia, who is disturbed by her vision of being in love with another man.

Walger, who starred on HBO's "Tell Me You Love Me" and has recurred on "Lost," is repped by Gersh and Jon Rubinstein.

Woods will play Janis, a computer-savvy FBI agent who helps to uncover a pivotal clue in the mystery. The actress, who starred in the pilots "Roman's Empire" and the untitled Mike Birbiglia project this year, is repped by Abrams Artist and attorney Melissa Rogal.

AMC's political thriller revolves around a secret society that pulls the strings on the world political stage and a brilliant analyst at a national think tank.

Collins will play the analyst's trusting research assistant. The actress, who recently starred on Broadway's "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," is repped by ICM and Emily Gerson-Saines.

Two more join ABC pilot