Helen Hunt, Richard Dreyfuss to star in Fox racial drama “Shots Fired”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Helen Hunt is returning to the small screen — and she's bringing Richard Dreyfuss and Stephen Moyer with her. The trio have booked starring roles on Fox limited series Shots Fired, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Picked up straight to series, the drama explores the aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small town in Tennessee. Sanaa Lathan stars an expert investigator who digs into the cases, alongside a special prosecutor sent to the town by the Department of Justice. The pair must navigate the media attention, public debate and social unrest that comes with such volatile cases as they seek justice before the divided town erupts.

Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Hunt (As Good As It Gets, Mad About You), who has a one-year deal for the series, will play Patricia Eamons, the fictional governor of North Carolina. For Hunt, Shots Fired marks her first notable small-screen acting gig since her multiple Emmy-winning role on Mad About You. Since the NBC comedy ended its run, Hunt has focused on feature films — including Cast Away, What Women Want, Bobby and Ride, the latter of which she wrote, directed, produced and starred in. On the TV side, she's focused on directing of late, helming episodes of Showtime's House of Lies, Life in Pieces and Revenge.

Dreyfuss will play Arlen Cox, a real estate mogul and owner of a privatized prison who is intricately involved in the shooting. The casting keeps Dreyfuss on the small-screen following his leading role in ABC mini Madoff. His credits include Jaws, The Goodbye Girl and Mr. Holland's Opus.

Moyer (The Bastard Executioner, True Blood) is set as Officer Breeland, a seasoned veteran in the town's sheriff's department who gets caught in the middle of the investigation.

Shots Fired is written and executive produced by married duo Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo also serve as executive producers on the 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine TV and Undisputed Cinema entry. Prince-Bythewood will direct. Stephan James, Aisha Hinds, Tristan Wilds co-star. The series will debut in 2016.