A&E booking 'Beast' drama
Network orders up Swayze drama
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Cabler has picked up 13 one-hour episodes of "The Beast," which will start shooting this summer in Chicago for an early 2009 bow.
"The Beast" reps the second original scripted drama pickup of 2008, following its greenlight earlier this year for Benjamin Bratt starrer "The Cleaner."
News this spring that Swayze was being treated for pancreatic cancer put the fate of the project in question, but insiders said the thesp's doctors have given him the greenlight to resume working. Project also stars Travis Fimmel.
Bob DeBitetto, exec VP and GM at A&E, said he was glad to see Swayze on board to continue the role he played in the pilot.
Sony Pictures TV is behind "The Beast." Swayze stars as an unorthodox FBI vet who cuts corners and rubs the agency the wrong way, while Fimmel plays his new, by-the-books partner. Tension rises when the rookie is asked to help the investigation of his partner.
Scarlet Fire Films' Allan Loeb and Steven Pearl exec produce, as well as Fuel Filmworks' Cory Concoff. John Romano ("American Dreams") is also set as exec producer and showrunner. Pilot was written by William Rotko and Vincent Angell.
Michael Dinner helmed the pilot.
Pickup comes soon after A&E officially unveiled its logo and tagline -- "Real Life. Drama."
