Jonathan Banks, best known as "Breaking Bad's' Mike Ehrmantraut, has a new TV gig.
The actor has been cast on NBC's drama pilot "Bloodline" as the dangerous Leo Killpriest, the patriarch of a family with a history of killers, according to TVLine.
"Bloodline," which has been compared to "Kill Bill," follows an orphan named Bird Benson, who's stuck between two families -- one of murderers and the other of mercenaries. Banks' character, the head of the latter family, is worried his bloodline will disappear so he tries to build an army with the remaining members, TVLine reports.
"Friday Night Lights" duo Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey created "Bloodline," which is written by "Awake's" David Graziano.
In more pilot news ...
Christina Ricci is the "Girlfriend in a Coma." The former "Pan Am" actress, who recently appeared on "The Good Wife," is near a deal to star in the NBC comedy pilot, which centers on Karen, who wakes up from a coma to find out she has a 17-year-old daughter from a pregnancy she doesn't remember. [EW]
Former "ER" and "Damages" stars join the "NCIS: LA" spinoff. Scott Grimes, best known as County General Hospital's Dr. Archie Morris, will play Dave, an impressive agent and a "forensic specialist who has an eye for clues and a nose for lies" on "NCIS: Red." Meanwhile, Gillian Alexy, who played Gitta Novak on "Damages," joins the "NCIS: LA" spinoff as the brilliant, athletic, tough and beautiful Special Agent Claire. The backdoor pilot, which "revolves around a mobile team of agents forced to live and work together as they crisscross the country solving crimes," will air as an installment of "NCIS: LA" this spring. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Danielle Campbell is heading to the "Vampire Diaries" spinoff. The actress will play Davina, a sheltered young witch (thanks to her overprotective caregivers), on "The Originals." The backdoor pilot -- which follows the family of original vampires and takes Klaus (Joseph Morgan) back to New Orleans' French Quarter where he's reunited with his evil former protégé Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) -- will be introduced in the April 25 episode of "The Vampire Diaries." [Deadline]
Jonathan Groff is HBO-bond. The "Glee" actor will star in a comedy pilot from "Bored to Death's" Sarah Condon and writer Michael Lannan about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco. In the untitled project, Groff will play the openly gay Patrick, who is a successful video-game developer, but is less successful in his personal life. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Aimee Teegarden could return to TV. The "Friday Night Lights" alumna will play Emery, the central character in The CW's pilot "Oxygen." The pilot follows teenage Emery as she falls in love with an alien boy, one of nine extra terrestrials who've integrated into a suburban high school. [Deadline]