Odette Annable and Melissa George have joined ABC projects, representatives for the actresses told TheWrap.
Annable will co-star on “Astronaut Wives Club” from “Gossip Girl” executive producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz for Fake Empire, which was given a 10-episode series order. Michael London (“Betas,” “The Illusionist”) will executive produce for Groundswell.
Set in the 1960s, the series focuses on the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history during the height of the space race.
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She’ll play Trudy Cooper, the wife of Gordo Cooper and the youngest of the wives. A licensed pilot herself, she has aspirations that can cause challenges for her husband and the other wives.
She joins previously announced castmembers JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Azure Parsons and Zoe Boyle.
Represented by UTA and Evolution Entertainment, Annable most recently appeared in recurring roles on CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” and Cinemax’s “Banshee.” Previously she starred on ABC’s “October Road” and “Brothers & Sisters.”
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Meanwhile, George will co-star on ABC’s untitled Richard LaGravenese drama pilot, which revolves around the war between two socialites (and sometimes lovers).
George will play a socialite in the middle of a devastating divorce who sets her former lover, Phillip (Rufus Sewell) on her soon-to-be ex-husband’s fiance.
Aside from Sewell, George joins Katie Holmes, who plays lead role Ann, on the project.
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Represented by Vic Murray Talent and 3 Arts Entertainment, George previously guest-starred on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Alias.” She has also appeared on HBO’s “In Treatment” and CBS’s “The Good Wife.”
LaGravenese — who wrote the screenplays for HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra,” the films “Beautiful Creatures” and “Water for Elephants,” among others — will write and executive-produce the project. Erwin Stoff (“The Matrix”), Ilene Staple and Wren Arthur (“A Prairie Home Companion”) will executive produce with ABC Studios.