USA Network announced a pilot pick-up for the hour-long scripted drama “Shooter” and has locked in Ryan Phillippe (“Secrets and Lies”) to star. “Shooter” is based on the best-selling Bob Lee Swagger novel by Stephen Hunter, ‘Point of Impact,’ and the 2007 Paramount film starring Mark Wahlberg. The co-production with Paramount Television and Universal Cable Productions comes from executive producers Wahlberg (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Entourage”) of Closest to the Hole Productions; Stephen Levinson (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Ballers”) of Leverage Entertainment; and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (“Transformers,” “The Real O’Neals”). John Hlavin (“The Shield”) wrote the pilot and will also executive produce. Simon Cellan Jones (“Ballers”) is set to direct the pilot.
Phillippe is a producer on the project and will star as 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.
“Shooter” is an action series whose central elements are the ingenuity and courage of a U.S. veteran and the military training and background that sustain him as he fights a sophisticated conspiracy.
Phillippe most recently appeared on television in “Secrets and Lies” where he starred opposite Juliette Lewis. Previously, he was seen on “Damages” playing Channing McClaren in the acclaimed drama’s final season. Most recently, Phillippe co-wrote, produced and starred in “Catch Hell,” which marks his directorial debut. The story follows an actor abducted while on location and is inspired by true events. Recent film credits include his role opposite Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei in “The Lincoln Lawyer,” Steven Silver’s “The Bang Bang Club,” Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Breach” starring opposite Chris Cooper.
Since the film, “White Squall” with director Ridley Scott, Phillippe has worked with exceptional actors and award winning directors. Additional film credits include Robert Altman’s Oscar nominated film “Gosford Park,” “Igby Goes Down,” “Antitrust” co-starring Tim Robbins, “Company Man” with Sigourney Weaver, “The Way of the Gun,” “The I Inside,” and the Academy Award winning film “Crash” directed by Paul Haggis.
Phillippe can also be seen in Paramount’s war-drama, “Stop-Loss,” alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum, “MacGruber” with Will Forte and Kristen Wiig and box office smash hits; “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Cruel Intentions” and “54” with Mike Myers.
In addition to “Shooter,” USA Network recently announced pilot pick-ups for “Brooklyn Animal Control,” a co-production between Universal Cable Productions and IDW Entertainment, the pilot is written and executive produced by JT Petty (“Splinter Cell”); and POOR RICHARD’S ALMANACK, a co-production between Legendary Television and Universal Cable Productions, the project is from executive producer Jim Danger Gray (“Orange is the New Black”) and consulting producer Miguel Sapochnik (“Game of Thrones”). Previously announced pick-ups also include the Universal Cable Production dramas “Falling Water” from executive producers Gale Anne Hurd (“The Walking Dead”) of Valhalla Entertainment, Blake Masters (“2 Guns”) and the late Emmy Award-winner Henry Bromell (“Homeland”), and PARADISE PICTURES from executive producer Aaron Korsh (“SUITS”) and Rick Muirragui (“SUITS”).
