EXCLUSIVE: John Corbett and Julie Benz lead the cast of TNT’s two-hour movie Ricochet, based on the best-selling book by Sandra Brown. Gary Cole and Kelly Overton co-star in the project, the second entry in the network’s recently announced new TNT Tuesday Night Mystery movie franchise slated to launch in November that will feature six contemporary crime dramas, from true-crime stories to fictional mysteries. Det. Sgt. Duncan Hatcher (Corbett), a sexy Savannah homicide cop, falls hard for Elise Laird (Benz), a dishy damsel-in-distress. She’s married to corrupt Judge Cato Laird (Cole), who consistently subverts Hatcher’s efforts to bring a local drug lord to justice. Things get complicated when Hatcher and his feisty partner, Det. DeeDee Bowen (Overton), are called to the Laird home after Elise supposedly shoots an intruder in self-defense. Production on Ricochet begins next week in New Orleans.
Benz, who is coming off ABC’s superhero drama No Ordinary Family, was available to take on the role because of a recent change in her status on CBS’ upcoming supernatural medical drama A Gifted Man. She was a regular in the pilot, playing the sister of the lead, Michael (Patrick Wilson), an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed when his dead ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle) starts visiting him. The family part of Michael’s life was substantial in the pilot, written by Susannah Grant, but the project has since been retooled by showrunner Neal Baer, an ER veteran, with the focus shifted predominantly to Michael’s medical world, a change underscored by the recent casting of Rachelle Lefevre as a new doctor. With the series becoming essentially a medical drama and the family element taking a back seat, Benz, repped by ICM and Vincent Cirrincione Associates, renegotiated her deal and will now be recurring on the show, allowing her to tackle other projects. Corbett is with CAA.
Oh… because we don’t have enough medical procedurals on the air… stupid move! I trust Grant’s take.
Julie Benz was the only reason I was going to check out A Gifted Man, so I guess now I can cross that one off my list.
Exactly. Julie Benz is the only reason I would have checked out A Gifted Man.
Love seeing these two paired up for a movie – I feel certain they’ll have chemistry. Julie Benz needs to be on TV STAT. Someone write her a show where she plays the LEAD and isn’t just arm candy. She has chops!
Ugh, A Gifted Man was one of the worst pilots this year, I doubt a procedural-makeover is what will save this stinker.
Julie Benz was THE reason to watch A Gifted Man. Neal Baer is an idiot! I hope her recurring role will be more than a few cameos to raise the ratings. Now I don’t want to watch the damn show based on this. Julie is a very talented actress! This really sucks!
First off, I apoligize for my comment above about Neal Baer. It was made out of anger. The reason for that anger of course is that Julie Benz has gone from a co-star to a recurring character and I’m a big fan of Julie Benz. I want her to succeed in all of her efforts and this change in the shows focus does not help. The recurring role is good but being a co-star is better. Plus the fact that since the pilot was made and the original story line included Julie Benz’ character to a much greated extent THAT is the show people were waiting to see. Now that has changed. In my opinion, a bad decision. The term ‘bait and switch’ comes to mind.
Dumb move. Shows need an emotional core and that is always best served via the family. Not interested in this show anymore and it amazes me how SAG allows it’s members to be treated this way. You signed a deal with Julie which means she made a 6 year comittment to your show and helped to make the pilot good enough to get ordered to series. In return she gets cut because some showrunner has another vision. Networks always do this and it always kills shows. You have to stay loyal to original cast. Sag – shame on you for being so utterly weak in this regard. Sign someone to a deal and stick to it. THese contracts are ridiculous, one way and our union needs to wake up and fight this. This should be a lawsuit
Ok, make this “A Gifted Watchman” and maybe it improves a bit. A superhero/doctor that talks with his dead wife.
Nah, still a medical drama like 50% of scripted hour=long shows (the other half are legal procedurals).
And the networks wonder why they lose money and viewers?
Julie Benz is a nightmare to work with.