Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: I hear Melora Hardin is set to join NBC’s new drama series Outlaw in a key recurring role. She has also closed a deal to return to The Office for a multi-episode arc. Outlaw stars Jimmy Smits as Cyrus Garza, a U.S. Supreme Court justice who quits the bench and returns to private practice. Hardin will play Claire Sax, a powerful senior partner in an elite law firm and love interest to Garza. Hardin replaces Gina Gershon who played the role in the pilot.

On The Office, Hardin will reprise her character Jan Levinson, Michael Scott’s unstable ex-girlfriend. With Jan and another Michael former love, Holly (Amy Ryan), both returning to The Office, Michael might be tying up some loose ends in what will be Carell’s final season on the comedy series. Hardin, repped by the Paul Kohner Agency and Framework, recently released her first studio album and next stars in the upcoming WWE comedy feature Knucklehead.

It’s been a busy week for major recasting on newly picked up broadcast series as many of them are heading into production. In the past couple of days NBC and CBS set new leads on Harry’s Law (Nate Corddry), Friends with Benefits (Zach Cregger) and $#*! My Dad Says (Jonathan Sadowski).

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.