CBS has found its leading lady for Murder.
Survivor’s Remorse grad Teyonah Parris will topline the cast of the network’s drama pilot.
Based on the BAFTA Award-winning BBC format, the CBS hourlong is described as a fresh take on the investigative drama. The potential series explores crime through the unique and often conflicting perspectives of cops and killers, witnesses and victims, friends and family. Shot like a true-crime documentary, the project invites the audience inside the emotional journey of an investigation, allowing them to discern the truth and judge the suspects’ guilt or innocence for themselves.
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Parris will star as Ayana Lake, a rising star in the NYPD whose keen intellect and quick, analytic mind are the keys to her success. But when she’s partnered with instinctive, intuitive Detective Jack Garrity (yet to be cast), their styles and personalities will sometimes clash.
Parris is the first person cast in the drama. She joins Murder after Survivor’s Remorse came to a sudden end last year following a four-season run on Starz. The actress’ credits include a recurring role on Fox’s Empire, AMC’s Mad Men and the feature Dear White People. Parris is repped by APA, Vanguard Management and Fox Rothschild.
Amanda Green penned the script and executive produces alongside her Lethal Weapon collaborators Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore, the latter of whom co-exec produces for Warner Bros. Television-based Lin Pictures. Murder is a co-production between Warners and CBS Television Studios.
Keep up with all the latest pilot orders, castings and eventual series pickups with THR‘s handy guide.
