Amazon Studios wanted a big star for Trial, a new legal drama from prolific TV writer/producer David E. Kelley, and they got him. Billy Bob Thornton will star in a role that’s tailor made for him after Kevin Costner dropped out.
Costner was linked to the project and set to play the same role, but he left earlier this month. Now, just weeks later, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety confirmed that Thornton is set to star.
With the actor on board, Amazon will skip its usual pilot process and will order the show to go straight-to-series. Typically, Amazon lets users vote on their favorite pilots before granting full season orders.
While doing television on a regular basis seems above Costner, Thornton is clearly having a good time on the small screen. After his chilling, Golden Globe-winning performance in the first season of FX’s Fargo, Thornton will get to play Billy McBride, a drunk lawyer hoping to revive his career.
Kelley wrote the pilot with his Boston Legal co-writer Jonathan Shapiro. David Semel, who worked on Ally McBeal (another Kelley show) will direct the pilot. Ross Fineman will executive produce with Kelley and Shapiro.
Kelley’s recent shows include The Crazy Ones and Harry’s Law. He’s currently working on HBO’s Big Little Lies with Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.
If Costner took the role, it would have been his first ever regular TV series role. Amazon can’t be blamed for going after him though, since he did win a Golden Globe and Emmy for his role in the History Channel miniseries Hatfields & McCoys.
As for Thornton, aside from Fargo, he was also recently on The Big Bang Theory. He was last seen on the big screen in Entourage and The Judge and is working on Our Brand Is Crisis.
image courtesy of INFPhoto.com
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