Maria Bello
The news broke earlier this afternoon that actress Maria Bello is close to signing a deal with NBC to appear in the American version of the UK hit series Prime Suspect that starred the incomparable Helen Mirren in the title role.
Bello got her start in the short-lived TV series Mr. & Mrs. Smith with none other than Scott Bakula in 1996-1997 and then transferred over to ER for one season. Since that time she has made a name for herself in films such as Coyote Ugly, A History of Violence, Thank You For Smoking, The Jane Austen Book Club, A Company Man and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. She has three movies coming up, including Abduction, Carjacked and St. Vincent.
Adrianne Palicki
Meanwhile, the role of Wonder Woman – the much-buzzed about pilot being done by David E. Kelley (the man behind The Practice and Ally McBeal) – was announced this evening with actress Adrianne Palicki – from Friday Night Lights and the short-lived FOX series Lone Star – landing the touted lead role.
Palicki got her first big break in a one-time role as Kara on Smallville, then she appeared as Sam’s doomed girlfriend in Supernatural before making appearances in North Shore and the short-lived series South Beach. Since then she has appeared in the box office film Legion with Paul Bettany and filmed the remake of the 80’s classic film Red Dawn, which has yet to be released (and may not see the light of day).
Please keep in mind that both of these projects are only PILOTS. That does not guarantee they will be picked up for a series order. They could easily be passed over by the networks. Only time will tell what happens.
Rueben's Ramblings 
Prime Suspect is one of my personal favorite crime dramas, and unlike some fans, I’m up for a remake if it can be done right. Bello would probably be a good fit, but NBC is not. The original Prime Suspect was way too gritty for network TV and the way NBC is doing things these days, you can’t expect much anyway.
If AMC or HBO was doing this I’d be a lot more into the idea.
Well, the only thing I can say in defense of NBC is that they desperately need some hits and Prime Suspect is one of the ways they could get back some of their former glory, as long as it well-written, well-produced, et al. Of course, the pilot needs to be picked up first and there is no way to know if it will make it until May.
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