Ryan Phillippe Drops Out of CBS Cop Drama

11:40 AM PST 2/22/2012 by Lesley Goldberg

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The split was amicable and comes as the actor, who's currently filming an arc on FX's "Damages," expressed doubts about committing to the intense production demands of a potential network series.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe has dropped out of CBS' Greg Berlanti/Nicholas Wootton cop drama pilot.

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The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the feature actor, who is currently filming a major arc on FX's fifth and final season of Damages, has amicably parted ways with the project.

The drama would have starred Phillippe as a cop who rises quickly through the ranks from officer to detective to police commissioner in the project, which was previously known as Golden Boy.

Sources confirm that Phillippe expressed doubt about committing to the intense production demands that come with a potential network drama series.

The project will now begin the search for a replacement to join the previously cast Chi McBride, Kevin Alejandro and Stella Maeve. Wootton is penning the pilot and will executive produce alongside Berlanti and Richard Shepard, who will direct the Warner Bros. Television drama.

Phillippe's departure comes during a casting season that has also featured a handful of big-screen actors boarding pilots. Kevin Bacon has been tapped to star in Fox's serial killer drama pilot from The Vampire Diaries' Kevin Williamson, and Dennis Quaid is in talks to join CBS' cowboy drama based on the life of Ralph Lamb.

The news comes a month after another feature actor, Paul Bettany, departed Showtime's Masters of Sex pilot, with Michael Sheen cast as his replacement.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit