USA orders “Shooter” remake starring Ryan Phillippe to series

PanARMENIAN.Net - The NBCUniversal-owned cable network has ordered the remake of the 2007 feature film of the same name to series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Based on Stephen Hunter's best-selling novel Point of Impact and the 2007 Paramount feature that starred Mark Wahlberg, Ryan Phillippe takes on the role of Bob Lee Swagger, an off-the-grid former Marine sniper who is coaxed into action to thwart the killing of the president. Ultimately double-crossed and framed for the attempt, he must call upon all the skills he acquired as a decorated Marine sharpshooter to avoid capture while hunting down and exposing the traitors who set him up.

The 10-episode drama series, which does not yet have a premiere date, is a co-production between Paramount Television — which produced the original feature — and Universal Cable Productions. John Hlavin (The Shield) wrote the pilot and will exec produce alongside Wahlberg (Boardwalk Empire, Ballers) and his Closest to the Hole Productions, as well as Leverage Entertainment's Stephen Levinson (Ballers) and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers). Simon Cellan Jones (Ballers) directed the pilot. Phillippe, in addition to starring, will also serve as a producer on the series. Omar Epps co-stars.

"Shooter is an uncompromising exploration of the definition and evolution of a hero," said Jackie de Crinis, executive vp original programming at USA Network. "The conspiracy and drama that unfolded throughout the first hour had us completely immersed, and we look forward to more."

Added Paramount TV president Amy Powell: "Stephen Hunter’s Bob Lee Swagger is a heroic, iconic character and there is so much more of his story to explore in series."

For USA, the pickup joins recently ordered drama series Falling Water, from The Walking Dead's Gale Anne Hurd and the late Henry Bromell.

The order for Shooter comes as USA has abandoned its former "Blue Skies" brand in favor of darker fare along the lines of newly minted Golden Globe winner Mr. Robot in a bid to court millennials. The cabler recently launched — and renewed — Carlton Cuse-produced Josh Holloway/Sarah Wayne Callies starrer Colony. Shooter is the second of the cable network's 2015-16 pilot slate to earn a series pickup. Still in contention are comic book adaptation Brooklyn Animal Control and Poor Richard's Almanack. The cabler recently passed on Tim Kring's The Wilding.

Shooter joins a drama slate at USA that includes Mr. Robot, Falling Water, Satisfaction, Colony, Suits, Royal Pains and Queen of the South as well as comedy Playing House.

Shooter becomes the latest movie-to-TV remake as broadcast, cable networks and streaming services look to proven brands in a bid to cut through a cluttered scripted landscape that consists of more than 400 originals. This season, CBS has found success with its Limitless reboot and next has Rush Hour due; Fox didn't fare as well with its Minority Report sequel and ABC has a take on Uncle Buck on the way. On the pilot side, NBC took Taken straight to series and is prepping Cruel Intentions, CBS has Training Day, Fox passed on Urban Cowboy and The CW is rebooting Frequency.