"Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek is returning to television with a starring role in the CBS comedy pilot "Three."

Another series alum, Jennifer Love Hewitt of Fox's "Party of Five," has been tapped to star in CBS' untitled John Gray drama pilot, lifting the contingency off the project; Denise Richards is set to star in UPN's drama pilot "Wildlife"; and Barry Watson of the WB Network's "7th Heaven" has been cast as the title character in the ABC drama pilot "What About Brian."

Also joining the "Brian" cast is Rosanna Arquette.

On the longform side, Katheryn Winnick has been cast as Ivana Trump in ABC's upcoming biopic of real estate mogul Donald Trump.

"Three," from Paramount Network TV, revolves around a happily married couple and their recently divorced male friend. Van Der Beek will play the newlywed husband.

The actor, who has starred in such features as "The Rules of Attraction" and "Varsity Blues," is repped by the Gersh Agency and attorney Patti Felker.

The untitled Gray project, widely known as "Ghost Whisperer," hails from Touchstone TV. Based on James Van Praagh's psychic work, it centers on a young newlywed (Hewitt) who communicates with the dead.

With the pilot, Hewitt continues her relationship with Touchstone TV. This past development season, she starred in the studio's comedy project for ABC "In the Game."

Hewitt, whose recent credits include "Garfield: The Movie" and NBC's "A Christmas Carol," is repped by Endeavor, Handprint Entertainment and attorney Bob Wallerstein.

"Wildlife," from Paramount Network TV and the Axelrod/Edwards Co., is a dramedy about a group of twentysomethings, one of them played by Richards, set in the hip Hollywood community of Silver Lake.

The casting stems from Richards' talent deal with UPN. The actress, who co-starred in the Joel Zwick-directed "Elvis Has Left the Building," recently wrapped the indie feature "Edmond," based on David Mamet's play.

Richards, who guest-starred twice on the CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men," including in the sophomore comedy's highest-rated episode, also toplined Lifetime's hit movie "I Do (But I Don't).

Richards is repped by the Gersh Agency.

"Brian," from Touchstone TV and Bad Robot, centers on a thirtysomething single guy (Watson) surrounded by his married friends. Arquette will play the guy's older sister.

Watson, who plays Matt Camden on the long-running "7th Heaven," most recently starred in the feature "Boogeyman." He is repped by UTA.

Arquette, who has appeared in such films as "Good Advice," "The Whole Nine Yards" and "Pulp Fiction," is repped by CAA.

Based on Gwenda Blair's book "The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire," the ABC biopic will cover the past 25 years or so in Donald Trump's life.

Ivana Trump, a former Czechoslovakian professional skier, met Donald Trump in 1976 when she was a Montreal-based model. During their tumultuous 15-year marriage, Ivana served as vp interior design for the Trump Organization.

Winnick ("Two Weeks Notice") is repped by APA and Schumacher Management.