TNT Orders MURDER IN THE FIRST to Series; Taye Diggs, Tom Felton to Star

TNT has greenlit Murder in the First, a new scripted drama from Emmy(R)-winner Steven Bochco and starring Taye Diggs (Private Practice) and Kathleen Robertson (Boss). Co-created by Bochco and Eric Lodal (The Locrian Mode), Murder in the First also stars Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Mimi Kirkland (Safe Haven), Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time), Ian Anthony Dale (Hawaii Five-0), Bess Rous (What Just Happened) and Steven Weber (Dallas, Wings).

TNT has ordered 10 episodes of Murder in the First, which is Being produced by TNT Originals. Bochco serves as executive producer, with Lodal as co-executive producer. The series is slated to premiere on TNT in summer 2014. TBS International will handle distribution to regions outside the United States and Canada.

Set in San Francisco, Murder in the First will follow a single case across an entire season. The drama centers on homicide detectives Terry English (Diggs) and Hildy Mulligan (Robertson) as they investigate the murder of an apparent drug addict. The mystery deepens, however, when the victim is found to have a connection to Silicon Valley wunderkind Erich Blunt (Felton), the celebrated CEO of a cutting-edge tech firm. The timing couldn't be worse for Blunt, who is preparing to take his company public. He's also Being sued by a software developer who claims Blunt stole his code for a revolutionary new hologram system.

Terry and Hildy's fellow detectives in their squad include philosopher-cop David Molk (Sbarge) The squad is supervised by Lt. Jim Koto (Dale). On the home front, Hildy is a single mom with an inquisitive daughter (Kirkland). Terry, meanwhile, is struggling to take care of his terminally ill wife, Emily, played by guest star Anne-Marie Johnson (JAG, In the Heat of the Night). Working for Blunt are Bill Wilkerson (Weber), his driver and pilot, and Ivana West (Rous), the company's chief technology officer.

"Murder in the First sets up an engrossing, season-long mystery that's certain to appeal to TNT fans," said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "We are thrilled to be working with Steven Bochco once again. We look forward to seeing this fascinating mystery unspool in the hands of Steven, Eric Lodal and the incredible cast and crew of Murder in the First."

Murder in the First is one of four new scripted dramas coming to TNT. On Wednesday, Dec. 4, TNT will launch the eagerly anticipated series event Mob City, starring Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) and executive-produced by Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption). And next summer will mark the premieres of the action-packed dramas The Last Ship, starring Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy) and executive-produced by Michael Bay (Transformers), and Legends, starring Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings) and executive-produced by Howard Gordon (Homeland, 24).

Photo Credit: Jim Smeal / BEImages

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