Nellie Andreeva

Battlestar Galactica alumna Katee Sackhoff has been cast as the female lead opposite Robert Taylor in A&E’s hourlong pilot Longmire. Also cast in the project, based on the Walt Longmire Mystery series of novels by Craig Johnson, are Lou Diamond Phillips, Bailey Chase (Saving Grace) and Cassidy Freeman (Smallville).

Longmire is named after its central character, Walt Longmire (Taylor), the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyo. Widowed only a year, he is a man in psychic repair but buries his pain behind his brave face, unassuming grin and dry wit. Sackhoff, repped by Gersh and Bleu, will play one of Walt’s deputies, hired six months ago after working homicide in Philadelphia for five years. Her relationship with Walt is filled with a playful give-and-take, while a deeper connection and sexual tension simmers beneath. Sackhoff, who co-starred on the final season of 24, recently did an arc on CSI. Phillips, repped by Global Artists and Thruline, will play Walt’s best friend. Chase, repped by Gersh and Untitled, will play another deputy of Walt’s. Freeman, repped by Kohner and Robyn Bluestone, will play Walt’s daughter. Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny wrote the project and are executive producing with Greer Shephard and Mike Robin for Warner Horizon.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.