All the stars are starting to align for NBC’s pilot Lincoln, as Arielle Kebbel has been cast as the female lead. Lincoln is based on novels by Jeffery Deaver, and the film The Bone Collector, which starred Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, and Angelina Jolie. Kebbel will star as Amelia, the role played by Jolie in the film.
Kebbel recently starred on NBC’s supernatural drama series, Midnight, Texas, which was canceled after two seasons. Before landing the lead on Midnight, Texas, Kebbel laid tracks in the TV world with notable roles in Gilmore Girls, 90210, and The Vampire Diaries. Not limited to television work, Kebbel also co-starred in The Grudge 2, John Tucker Must Die and Fifty Shades Freed. Several of the projects Kebbel was attached to did not reach box office success or longevity, but her performances have generally been well-received. Now, Kebbel is set to return to NBC, as the network has added her to the cast of Lincoln.
According to Deadline, Kebbel will play Amelia Sachs, a resilient young cop who partners with Lincoln Rhyme - ex-head of NYPD forensics who’s now a quadriplegic as a result of an accident while pursuing a serial killer. Sachs is not quite a veteran in the world of police work, but her intuition and loyalty quickly earn her the respect of Rhyme. In The Bone Collector film, Amelia was played by Jolie, but the character’s last name was changed to Donaghy. Lincoln shows promise of stronger ties to the novels by keeping Amelia’s original last name - Sachs. Kebbel being cast as Amelia solves the mystery of who would play opposite Russell Hornsby - who’s landed the role of Lincoln Rhyme. It was recently announced that Michael Imperioli, best known for his work on The Sopranos, will also join the cast as Rick Sellitto.
Lincoln is in the hands of executive producers VJ Boyd and Mark Bianculli - who’ve also penned the pilot script. Seth Gordon, known for producing The Goldbergs, has been tapped to direct the series. The creative team also includes seasoned TV producers Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan (The Brave). Even with Lincoln on the horizon, Kebbel has been busy with the development of ABC’s upcoming series, Grand Hotel - set to air this summer.
The pilot for Lincoln has been highly-anticipated since the announcement of its production. The casting choices of Hornsby, Imperioli, and Kebbel have furthered the intrigue on the direction the show will take. One of the most crucial selling points of the pilot will be the chemistry between Hornsby and Kebbel. Since Kebbel’s role is intended to be the hands and feet of Hornsby, the two will have to take the meaning of partnership to a new level. Kebbel has encountered the strange and unknown with her previous roles and looks to be a great fit for Lincoln. Kebbel (and Amelia) is no doubt up for any task and hurdle that the NBC pilot Lincoln might throw her way.
Source: Deadline
