TV News: Fox Picks Up New Event Series SHOTS FIRED Debuting in 2016

UPDATED 3/18/16 – More Casting News

In a press release:

ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS HELEN HUNT AND RICHARD DREYFUSS, AND

STEPHEN MOYER JOIN NEW EVENT SERIES “SHOTS FIRED”

DEBUTING 2016 ON FOX

New Series from Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood Also Stars

Sanaa Lathan (“The Perfect Guy”) and Stephan James (“Race,” “Selma”)

Academy-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Helen Hunt (“As Good As It Gets,” “The Sessions,” “Mad About You”), Academy- and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss (“The Goodbye Girl,” “Jaws,” “Madoff,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus”) and Stephen Moyer (“The Bastard Executioner,” “True Blood”) have been cast in lead roles in SHOTS FIRED, a dramatic new event series from Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Love & Basketball”) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “Notorious”), that examines the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small town in North Carolina. Hunt will portray PATRICIA EAMONS, the fictional governor of North Carolina. Dreyfuss will play ARLEN COX, a real estate mogul and owner of a privatized prison who is intricately involved in the shootings. Moyer will play OFFICER BREELAND, a seasoned veteran in the town’s Sheriff’s Department, who gets caught in the middle of the investigation.

Sanaa Lathan as spokeperson for 2016 AGTA Spectrum Awards Collection. Photo courtesy of ©2016 PRNewswire.

SHOTS FIRED also will star Sanaa Lathan (“The Perfect Guy”) as an expert investigator who digs into the cases, alongside Stephan James (“Race,” “Selma”) as a special prosecutor sent to the town by the Department of Justice. The pair must navigate the media attention, public debate and the social unrest that comes with such volatile cases, as they seek justice before the divided town erupts. The two are drawn into further political intrigue when they find their investigation manipulated by the politically fierce Governor Eamons (Hunt), who prides herself on not being a typical politician. As the first female and Democrat governor in the state, she is in a tough re-election fight, and the national media attention on the recent shootings in her state is making it tougher. The event series is scheduled to debut in 2016. Hunt has signed on for the first season of the event series.

Also featured in the event series are Aisha Hinds (“Under the Dome,” “NCIS: Los Angeles”) and Tristan Wilds (“90210,” “The Wire”). Hinds will play PASTOR JANAE JAMES, an activist who is seduced by the spotlight. Wilds will play OFFICER BELK, who finds himself under investigation for a shooting, and tries to protect his family from the spotlight.

Helen Hunt at the 85th Annual Academy Awards February 24, 2013 (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Helen Hunt has enjoyed a diverse career, not only as an award-winning actress, but more recently as an accomplished writer, director and producer. As an actress, her extensive and diverse body of work includes roles in film, theater and television. Hunt most recently was seen in her second directorial effort, “Ride,” which she also wrote, produced and starred in. Hunt was recognized for her work in the feature film “The Sessions,” in which she starred alongside John Hawkes and William H. Macy. Her performance garnered an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female, and she was nominated in the same category for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, Broadcast Film Critics’ Award and a BAFTA Award. For her work in James Brooks’ 1998 film, “As Good As It Gets,” Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her other film credits include “Decoding Annie Parker,” “Soul Surfer,” “Every Day,” “Bobby,” “What Women Want,” “Castaway,” “A Good Woman,” Woody Allen’s “The Curse of the Jade Scorpion,” Robert Altman’s “Dr. T and the Women,” “Pay It Forward,” “Twister” and “Then She Found Me,” which Hunt also co-wrote, produced and directed.

Richard Dreyfuss at “Zipper” premiere during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2015. Photo courtesy of ©Fox Broadcasting Co.

After his breakout starring performance in the classic feature film “American Graffiti,” for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, Richard Dreyfuss went on to star in multiple box-office blockbusters, including “Jaws” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” both directed by Steven Spielberg, before winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of a struggling actor in “The Goodbye Girl.” His additional feature credits include memorable roles in “Down And Out In Beverly Hills,” “Stakeout,” “Nuts,” “Stand by Me” and “Moon Over Parador.” Dreyfuss reunited with Steven Spielberg in “Always,” and starred opposite Bill Murray in the hit comedy “What About Bob?” He was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his performance as “Glenn Holland” in “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” and continued starring in feature films such as “Poseidon,” “Red” and “W,” in which he portrayed United States Vice President Dick Cheney in director Oliver Stone’s George W. Bush biopic. On television, Dreyfuss was most recently seen in the title role in the miniseries “Madoff.” His additional television credits include the network drama “The Education of Max Bickford,” the miniseries “Tin Man” and “Coma,” as well as recurring guest-starring roles on “Weeds” and “Parenthood.” Dreyfuss has starred in several Broadway productions, including roles in “Total Abandon,” “Death and the Maiden” and “Sly Fox.” He also starred in the London stage production of “The Producers.” Dreyfuss is Founder and President of The Dreyfuss Initiative, a nonprofit organization committed to revitalizing America’s civic culture [www.TheDreyfussInitiative.org]. He serves on the American Bar Association’s Education Committee, the Board of the National Constitution Center and was Senior Research Advisory Member of St. Antony’s College, Oxford University.

Stephen Moyer at HBO’s ‘True Blood’ Final Season Premiere on June 17, 2014 (Photo by Barry King/FilmMagic)

Stephen Moyer is best known for playing “Bill Compton” for seven seasons in Alan Ball’s hit cable drama “True Blood,” based on the best-selling series of books “The Sookie Stackhouse Novels,” by Charlaine Harris. Most recently, Moyer starred in Kurt Sutter’s drama, “The Bastard Executioner,” for FX, and in National Geographic Channel’s miniseries, “Killing Jesus,” the adaptation of FOX News Channel veteran Bill O’Reilly’s book of the same name. On the big screen, Moyer was most recently seen opposite Will Smith in “Concussion.” Moyer famously played “Captain Von Trapp” in the highly rated live broadcast of “The Sound of Music,” opposite Carrie Underwood and executive-produced by Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. His additional credits include the feature films “Devil’s Knot,” opposite Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth; “The Barrens”; “The Double”; “Priest”; “88 Minutes”; “Undiscovered”; “Quills”; and “Prince Valiant.”

SHOTS FIRED is produced by Undisputed Cinema and Imagine Television, in association with 20^th Century Fox Television. The series is co-written by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. The project is executive-produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo. Gina Prince-Bythewood will direct. “Like” SHOTS FIRED on Facebook at facebook.com/ShotsFiredFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @ShotsFiredFOX and join the discussion using #ShotsFired. See photos and videos on Instagram by following @ShotsFiredFOX.

In a press release:

FOX PICKS UP NEW EVENT SERIES “SHOTS FIRED”

Sanaa Lathan (“The Perfect Guy”) to Star in Drama from

Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has ordered SHOTS FIRED, the dramatic new event series from Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Love & Basketball”) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “Notorious”), that examines the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small town in Tennessee. The event series will debut in 2016.

“Gina and Reggie have crafted a profoundly moving portrayal of a timely and sensitive issue that pervades our culture at this very moment,” said David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “This is not only an important story to tell, but also an explosive mystery-thriller, and we couldn’t be in better hands both with the creative team behind this, along with the very talented Sanaa Lathan leading the cast.”

SHOTS FIRED, from 20^th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television, will star Sanaa Lathan (“The Perfect Guy”) as 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 the social unrest that comes with such volatile cases, as they seek justice before the divided town erupts.

The series is written and executive-produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo also will serve as executive producers. Gina Prince-Bythewood will direct.

SHOTS FIRED is produced by Undisputed Cinema and Imagine Television, in association with 20^th Century Fox Television. The story was co-written by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. The project is executive-produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo.