Funnyman Simon Pegg will have to trade in his Starfleet uniform and phaser for a fedora and a gun as he's now set to join the pilot of Frank Darabont's gestating adaptation of John Buntin's epic saga "L.A. Noir: The Struggle For The Soul Of America's Most Seductive City" for the cable network TNT.
No word on what role Pegg will play but he is noted to be a "guest star," which seemingly implies it's not a role that will carry on if/when the series is picked up. This is likely due to the fact that Pegg resides in London and has other film commitments; he's currently shooting with J.J. Abrams and company on the highly anticipated "Star Trek" sequel and might be re-teaming with cohorts Edgar Wright and Nick Frost for "The World's End" sometime this year as well.
Either way, Pegg will join "The Walking Dead" star Jon Bernthal who'll play an ex-Marine-turned-L.A.P.D.-cop who finds himself in the middle of the war between Captain William Parker (played by Neil McDonough) and infamous gangster Mickey Cohen. Former "Heroes" star Milo Ventimiglia is also on board as Bernthal's WWII buddy who has returned as a ambitious lawyer working as a "fixer" for the mob. Producers Michael De Luca ("The Social Network") and Elliot Webb are backing the "fast-paced period thriller" with Alisa Phillips ("Moneyball") co-executive producing. [THR]