January 16, 2017 - 14:21 AMT
Dakota Fanning joins TNT’s long- awaited adaptation of “The Alienist”

Dakota Fanning has signed on to co-star in TNT’s highly anticipated adaptation of “The Alienist.” The cabler has also renewed its Michelle Dockery drama, “Good Behavior,” for a second season, Variety said.

“Alienist,” from Paramount TV and Turner’s Studio T, revolves around the search for a serial killer in turn of the century New York City. Fanning plays Sara Howard, a secretary for police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt who is determined to become the city’s first female police detective. Daniel Bruhl and Luke Evans co-star.

The series, scheduled to bow late this year, is based on Caleb Carr’s best-selling novel of the same name. Production is slated to begin soon in Budapest.

“Alienist” is TNT’s biggest drama swing for the coming year. “Good Behavior” was among the first wave of dramas meant to redefine the TNT programming brand from big-tent procedurals to edgier concepts and characters. “Downton Abbey” alum Dockery plays a crack-smoking con woman recently released from jail who becomes wrapped up with a hitman as he travels the country on business.

“Fueled by unsinkable characters on a dangerous search for belonging, love and family, ‘Good Behavior’ is addictive television,” said Sarah Aubrey, exec VP of original programming for TNT. “Millions of viewers have fallen hard for this sexy, complicated couple, and in season two, Letty and Javier will give us plenty more to obsess about.”

According to TNT, “Good Behavior” has averaged 4.4 million viewers across linear and digital platforms, and has shown steady growth since its Nov. 15 debut. The second season will premiere in the fall. “Good Behavior” is based on a series of novels by Blake Crouch, who exec produces with showrunner Chad Hodge for Tomorrow Studios. Tomorrow’s Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements also exec produce.