‘Mission: Impossible’ Villain Michael Nyqvist to Star in ABC Drama Pilot

After starring in the Swedish original version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and its two sequels and as a villain nuclear scientist opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, Michael Nyqvist is turning to the small screen.

The Swedish actor — whose Mikael Blomqvist role in Dragon was played by Daniel Craig in the U.S. adaptation — has been tapped to star in ABC’s drama pilot Zero Hour, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

From Prison Break scribe Paul Scheuring, Zero Hour centers on Hank Foley, who has spent 20 years as the editor of a skeptics magazine and, through a bizarre twist of fate, is pulled into one of the most compelling conspiracies in human history.

ER‘s Anthony Edwards will star as Foley, with Nyqvist on board to play White Vincent, one of the villains at the heart of the global conspiracy, a mercenary with eyes somewhere between mystic and shark. He’s one of the world’s most dangerous assassins who has worked for dozens of governments and secret cabals and possesses a special connection to the Hero (Edwards), that when uncovered delivers a shocking blog of gigantic proportions.

Scheuring will also executive produce the ABC Studios drama alongside Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott. Pierra Morel will direct the pilot, which will film in Montreal. Nyqvist joins a cast that includes Addison Timlin, Carmen Ejogo and Scott Michael Foster.

The role will mark his U.S. TV series debut.

Nyqvist is repped by WME, Magnolia Entertainment and Felker Toczek.

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

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