After it was passed over by CBS during last spring's pilot season, Fox has jumped in and revived the Rainn Willson-led "Backstrom." The network picked up 13 episodes of the new series, which will feature a decidedly different kind of performance from "The Office" alum.
Wilson will portray Everett Backstrom, a police detective who heads up the Serious Crimes Unit in Portland, Oregon. This unit investigates the city's most sensitive cases.
Based on a popular series of Swedish novels by criminologist Leif G. W. Persson, the TV version was developed by "Bones" creator Hart Hanson, which is a very encouraging sign. Hanson clearly knows a thing or two about crafting a successful and engaging crime show. "Hart Hanson and Rainn Wilson are the perfect combination of creative vision and on-screen talent to bring this one-of-a-kind character and story ... to Fox," said Fox Entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly in a statement.
"He's a delightfully disheveled misanthrope with a twisted, brilliant mind and a heart of barbed wire," Wilson said of his character in a statement. "Truly the role of a lifetime." Wilson is joined by Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha, Page Kennedy and Beatrice Rosen. No premiere date has been announced.