Actor goes to drama pilot after long sitcom stint
Jim Belushi has been cast as one of the leads in CBS legal drama pilot “The Defenders.”
Pilot, written by Niels Mueller and Kevin Kennedy, is being directed by Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”). Belushi plays Nick, a Las Vegas attorney with marital and drinking issues.
Actor’s shifting genres after a long run on sitcom “According to Jim.”
In other casting news, Kelli Garner (“Taking Woodstock”) will play Dawn Barbuso in ABC’s docu-style drama “Generation Y,” helmed by her “Lars and the Real Girl” director, Craig Gillespie.
Script is from scribe Noah Hawley.
Also, “Attack of the Show” co-host Olivia Munn is on tap to play Leigh in NBC’s sitcom pilot “Perfect Couples.” Munn will next be seen in Marvel-produced and Paramount-distributed “Iron Man 2,” set for theatrical release May 7. Jon Pollack and Scott Silveri are behind “Perfect Couples,” about three different relationships.
And Carrie Wiita has been added to NBC’s “The Strip” as Ashley, love interest of star Robert Ben Garant. Wiita is also on the Fox sketch comedy pilot “Inside Jokes.”
