Jason Isaacs to star in Fox drama pilot

British actor joins 'Pleading Guilty' after fielding multiple offers

By Nellie Andreeva

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March 2, 2010, 11:00 PM ET

It took two years of courtship and eight offers this season alone, but U.S. broadcast networks finally got British actor Jason Isaacs to do a pilot.

He has signed as the lead in the Fox drama pilot "Pleading Guilty," lifting the contingency on the project from Peter Chernin's company and 20th TV.

A legal thriller based on Scott Turow's book "Pleading Guilty," about embezzlement, bookmaking, offshore banking and the politics of a high-powered law firm, "Guilty" centers on Mack (Isaacs), a cop-turned-attorney described as "a big handsome Irish lunk" who is assigned to investigate the disappearance of the firm's star litigator.

"Brotherhood" star Isaacs, among the highest-paid actors this pilot season, has been in demand since the Showtime drama ended in 2008. He was pursued but unavailable last pilot season because of commitments to the "Harry Potter" movies, in which he plays Lucius Malfoy.

Isaacs, who co-stars opposite Matt Damon in "Green Zone," is repped by Gersh, the Collective and attorney Karl Austen.

Jason Isaacs to star in Fox drama pilot

British actor joins 'Pleading Guilty' after fielding multiple offers

By Nellie Andreeva

March 2, 2010, 11:00 PM ET

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