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EXCLUSIVE: Sam Neill is set to star opposite Sarah Jones in the J.J. Abrams-produced Fox pilot Alcatraz. The drama project, from Warner Bros. TV, Abrams’ Bad Robot and executive producer/showrunner Liz Sarnoff, chronicles the efforts of a cop (Jones) and team of FBI agents tracking down a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who reappear in the present day. Neill will play Emerson Hauser, the head of a government agency who radiates authority and piercing intelligence. In addition to Jones, Neill joins previously cast Lost alum Jorge Garcia and Jonny Coyne, who also play lead roles, and Jason Butler Harner, who is supporting. WME-repped Neill co-starred on the ABC drama Happy Town last season. On the feature side, he recently wrapped The Vow and is finishing up The Hunter.
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Love Sam Neill. Good to see him attached to this interesting project.
So great that the original idea and great script that Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt brought to Bad Robot has gotten such an amazing cast. This one’s a sure winner!
Try to imagine yourself in the Fox Production Offices. You get your first look at this “six foot turkey” as you enter a clearing. The show moves like a bird, lightly, bobbing its head. And you keep still because you think that maybe 4 quadrant accessibility is based on a T-Rex of a show, LOST – you’ll lose it if you don’t move. But no, not Alcatraz. You stare at it, and it just stares right back. And that’s when the attack comes. Not from the front, but from the side *whoosh* from the other two prisons shows you didn’t even know were there. Because Abram’s a pack hunter, you see, he uses coordinated attack patterns and he is out in force today. And he slashes at you with this… a six-inch retractable claw, like a razor, on the the middle toe. He doesn’t bother to bite your jugular like a lion, say… no no. He slashes at you here… or here… or maybe he just gives up and the island is a cork. The point is… you are alive when he starts to eat you. So you know… try to show a little respect.
HA!!!!!!!!! Brilliant reference.
Agreed Bravo.
Sorry Emperor Abrams, but your naked.
Dr. Grant? Fantastic.
Yay Liz!!!
Don’t diss J.J. And company. They are awesome. Super talented, super successful and incredubly nice, a rare combination in this industry.
Neil has gotta be looking forward to a series that has some cohesion.
OMG I love Jurassic Park and LOVE Sam Neil.
I am SO watching this show!!
Where is David Lonner? He should be involved somehow he has stood by this guy from the felicity days! J.J. don’t forget the folks that got you where you are?
Sam Neill is fantastic. So, too, is Ms. Nagra. “Alcatraz” sounds like a homerun.
Looks like a wonderfully entertaining series from J.J. Abrams. This seems like it would be right up Michael Bay’s alley — if he wanted to get into TV.
yayy!!!!! sam neill!! i sooo love him! ill definitely watch this one!
Wait. This easily could have been an episode or storyline on Fringe– Abram’s current FBI supernatural show. Now, I enjoy most of Abram’s work but for Christ’s sake, how many spy/FBI/govt/supernatural shows do we need to see from him?
Sam Neill is gold.
J.J. Is one of the nicest successful and brilliant producers of television and Sam Neill fantastic. Look forward to seeing it when it airs.
Please dear god not Michael Bay whose needlessly frenetic directing style distracts from the content of everything he makes!