Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: TNT’s Dallas reboot is starting to take shape. Josh Henderson (Desperate Housewives) has landed one of the leads in the project, playing J.R.’s son. Additionally, original Dallas stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray are now all confirmed to return to Southfork.

The updated Dallas pilot, from Cane creator Cynthia Cidre and Warner Horizon, centers on the offspring of bitter rivals and brothers J.R. (Hagman) and Bobby Ewing (Duffy) — J.R.’s son, John Ross (Henderson) and Bobby and Pam Ewing’s adopted son, Christopher – who clash over the future of the Ewing dynasty while the fate of Southfork itself weighs in the balance. Henderson joins Jordana Brewster, who was recently cast as Elena, the gorgeous daughter of the ranch’s cook who is locked into a love triangle with Christopher and John. Michael M. Robin (The Closer) is set to direct and executive produce the pilot.

Hagman gained worldwide fame for his portrayal of oil baron J.R. Ewing on the original soap, which ran from 1978 to 1991. Following months of negotiations over salary demands, Hagman has finally signed on for the Dallas reboot after verbally committing to the project last week. Gray and Duffy, who came on board late last year, played J.R.’s wife, Sue Ellen Ewing, and J.R.’s younger brother Bobby, respectively, in the original Dallas.

The new Dallas came close to going without a present-day J.R. With Hagman holding out for money, Cidre had written an alternative pilot script  in which Hagman’s J.R. is only represented through flashbacks from the original series. Luckily, the producers didn’t have to use it after an agreement with Hagman was finally reached. Hagman is repped by TalentWorks and manager Gene Yusem.

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