AMC Pilots Cast 'Hung' and 'River' Stars

A few months back, we reported on a couple of new scripted dramas getting the pilot treatment for AMC. One was the stateside take on BBC hit "Low Winter Sun," about a wayward policeman. The other was a then (and still) untitled legal saga from Hollywood screenwriter Richard LaGravenese and longtime theatrical character actor (and Ryan Lochte lookalike) Tony Goldwyn. Apparently, both shows were biding their time until the merry-go-round of spring cancellations came to a total halt, as they've both recruited stars from recently nixed series.

According to Deadline, "Low Winter Sun" has secured the talents of Lennie James, who just spent a couple seasons warming hearts as mentoring pimp Charlie on HBO's "Hung." James will portray a halfway-crooked cop named Joe on "Winter Sun." Then there's the multi-syllabic "LaGravenese & Goldwyn Project," which has turned to "The River" drifter Joe Anderson to play Polish convict Terry Kaminski.

In tangentially related casting buzz, current AMC ensemble player Bob Odenkirk (aka Saul from "Breaking Bad") is quickly sojourning over to CBS. The one-time "Mr. Show" mastermind is taking a breather from all that meth-distribution business to reprise his role as Barney's attorney, Arthur Hobbs, on "How I Met Your Mother" in an upcoming Season 8 episode.

 

Plus: The fate of your favorite shows | 2012 Primetime Emmy nominees

 

If any other urgent news related in any way to the American Movie Classics thespian stable emerges, we will be sure to keep you updated.