Rumer Willis Joins E! Pilot ‘Songbyrd’

In her first series regular role, Rumer Willis is set to co-star opposite  Bethany Joy Lenz in one of E!’s first two scripted pilots, the Krista Vernoff/Diane Warren drama Songbyrd executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. It centers on Lauren Byrd (Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Warren. Lauren, writer of hit love songs, employs a small staff, including her sister Mickey (Willis), to enable and manage her eccentric yet wildly successful process. Mickey is a smart, somewhat introverted young woman who is trying to figure out what’s next in her life after an “episode” forced her to drop out of law school. She now works for her sister, helping her keep her life together as she secretly works on her own singing and songwriting. Uni TV is co-producing with Universal Cable Prods; Michael Morris is directing. On TV, Willis, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, is best known for her recurring role on 90210. She also has been trying her hand at singing.