'Office' star Rainn Wilson teams with 'Bones' creator for CBS drama pilot
Actor to play a 'self-destructive' detective in 'Backstrom'
Rainn Wilson
Having just wrapped his stint playing Dwight Schrute for nine seasons on NBC's "The Office," Rainn Wilson is trying his hand at a drama series for a change. Or at least, drama-ish.
The actor has signed on for the CBS pilot "Backstrom," created by a man known for bringing a darkly comedic touch to heavy subject matter: "Bones" creator Hart Hanson. Wilson will star as title character Everett Backstrom, an "overweight, offensive, irascible" detective who constantly struggles with controlling his "self-destructive" tendencies. He joins the previously-cast Page Kennedy, Kristoffer Polaha and Dennis Haysbert in the pilot, which WIlson will also produce. The prospective series is based on the Swedish book series by Leif G.W. Persson.
NBC recently passed on Wilson's "Office" spin-off "The Farm," which he co-created, though the "back-door pilot" did air as last week's episode of "The Office" Season 9 (you can check out Alan Sepinwall's review here).
All details courtesy of Deadline.
What do you think of Wilson's new venture? Intrigued? Sound off below.
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupDave B
March 17, 2013 at 11:37PM EST Reply to CommentEvery spin off like this has failed over the last quarter century or more. Carbon copy. Remember Michael Richardson or Andy Richter, Bunz from Hill Street Blues? Sad, but Dwight is an offensive jerk, instead of an annoying buffoon. A stereotype like his needs to go straight to cable.
March 18, 2013 at 12:41AM ESTTyping before Reading? So, uh, Dave,
March 18, 2013 at 11:51AM ESTStill recovering from St. Patty's?
Evert
March 20, 2013 at 9:58AM EST Reply to CommentPerfect casting, but I see a big problem here... The original book character Backstrom is a real pig, costumed to using both the f- and n-word frequently (and worse words for that matter). It's a really big and important part of the character as written. As a foreigner I'm guessing thats not what CBS have in mind...