Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen have been tapped to star in "Smith," a drama pilot by John Wells picked up at CBS.

Amy Smart and Franky G also have been cast in the project, from Warner Bros. TV and John Wells Prods.

"Smith," written and to be executive produced by Wells, is a crime drama told from the point of view of a crew of career criminals.

"ER" veteran Christopher Chulack is on board to direct.

Liotta, a regular fixture on series producers' wish lists of actors, had shied away from television for the past 20 years, with one exception: a guest stint in 2004 on the NBC/WBTV veteran medical drama "ER," which Wells oversees as executive producer. The episode, "Time of Death," was directed by Chulack.

The role earned Liotta an Emmy, while Chulack landed a DGA nomination for his work.

Liotta's upcoming features include "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale," "Smokin' Aces," "Chasing 3000" and "Chlorine."

Madsen, a 2005 Oscar nominee for "Sideways," next appears in Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion."

On TV, she did a multiepisode arc on NBC's "Frasier."

Smart most recently starred in the comedy "Just Friends."

Franky G is a familiar face at WBTV and John Wells Prods. Last season, he toplined the companies' drama for Fox "Jonny Zero." On the big screen, he most recently co-starred in "Saw II."

In addition to "ER," Wells also is shepherding the final season of NBC's acclaimed political drama "The West Wing.

Additionally, his company is co-producing ABC's upcoming series "The Evidence."