Keri Russell Headshot 2011
Keri Russell is going undercover.
The Felicity star has been tapped to play a KGB spy in FX’s drama pilot The Americans. The 1980s-set project, ordered to pilot in December, centers on the arranged marriage of Phillip and Elizabeth (Russell), who have two children who know nothing about their parents’ true identity.
Their relationship grows more passionate and genuine by the day but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of informants and spies under their control. Complicating it further is Phillip’s growing sense of affinity for the American way of life.
PHOTOS: Complete 2012 Pilots Guide
Creator Joe Weisberg (Falling Skies, Damages), who once worked for the CIA, will serve as an executive producer on the project, alongside Justified showrunner Graham Yost. DreamWorks Television and its TV co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also will act as executive producers on the drama, which is being jointly produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions.
Americans joins fellow drama Powers in FX’s development coffers. Both will vie for contention on a schedule that includes such shows as Justified, Sons of Anarchy and Wilfred. The network will add Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management and a Russell Brand late-night comedy series this spring.
Russell broke out with her late-’90s star vehicle Felicity on The WB. In the years since, she has headlined such projects as Fox’s short-lived comedy Running Wilde and 2007 indie darling Waitress. Russell joins former Felicity stars Scott Foley (Fox’s The Goodwin Games) and Scott Speedman (ABC’s Last Resort) with pilots this development season.
The actress is repped by WME, Burstein Co. and Sloane Offer.
Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose
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