Bill Paxton has been cast in the lead role of the “Training Day” pilot currently in the works at CBS, TheWrap has learned.
Paxton will play Frank Rourke, a veteran LAPD cop who heads up the Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.), a unit that goes after the worst of the worst. He lives by the law of the jungle and believes that real courage is the will to chase the bad guys where the law won’t.
In this reimagining that begins 15 years after the film left off, an idealistic young African-American police officer is appointed to Rourke’s squad but struggles with the moral ambiguity of his commanding officer.
Paxton is primarily known for his film roles, but has starred in several television projects over the years. He was the lead in the HBO series “Big Love” for its full five-season run. He also recently appeared in the History miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys” and “Texas Rising.”
Antoine Fuqua was originally attached to direct the pilot, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Danny Cannon will direct, with Fuqua still serving as executive producer.
Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman will also executive produce. KristieAnne Reed will serve as co-executive producer
Former LAPD detective Will Beall, who wrote the original movie, is also writer of the pilot. Warner Bros. Television will produce along with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Fuqua Films. Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures produced the original film.
This marks the latest attempt to adapt a film to the small screen. CBS found success in fall 2015 with their adaptation of “Limitless,” with Bradley Cooper serving as executive producer after starring in the 2011 film. CBS will also debut a television adaptation of the “Rush Hour” film series on March 31.
Other film-to-TV adaptations haven’t been so lucky. Fox struck out with “Minority Report,” based on the 2002 Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg film. The show averaged less than 2.1 million viewers per episode, leading Fox to cancel it after one season.