Jeremy Piven in Talks to Star in ITV Series MR. SELFRIDGE

As first reported on Deadline.com, actor Jeremy Piven is currently in talks to take on the lead role in the ITV drama series MR. SELFRIDGE. The series comes from 'Bridget Jones' Diary creator Andrew Davies.

MR SELFRIDGE will tell the story of "the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge (Piven), and chronicle the launch of his famous London department store Selfridge’s." The series, which is set in London in 1909, will be based on the book 'Shopping, Seduction And Mr Selfridge' by Lindy Woodhead. 

According to the report, ITV has been searching for a well-known American actor to play the lead in the series, which starts production in London this April for a 2013 premiere.

Piven is best known for his role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold on the HBO comedy 'Entourage', for which he won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.

His film credits include The Goods, Rocknrolla, The Kingdom,  The Player, Runaway Jury, Old School, Serendipity, Black Hawk Down, Very Bad Things, Singles, Rush Hour 2 and The Family Man. On the small screen Piven was a series regular on Cupid and Ellen and appeared on The Larry Sanders Show and in the telepic Don King: Only in America.

In 2005, Piven returned to his theater acting roots when he starred alongside Keri Russell and Andrew McCarthy in the off-Broadway hit, Fat Pig by Neil LaBute. For his role, Piven received a Distinguished Performance Honor from the Drama League. In 2009, Piven was scheduled to perform for the full run of David Mamet's 'Speed-The-Plow' but backed out of his committment due to health issues. Emmy winner William H. Macy took over the role.