spinoff casting news

[dysfunkshunell1.livejournal.com]

According to The Hollywood Reporter...

Oscar winner Forest Whitaker is in final negotiations to star on CBS' potential "Criminal Minds" spinoff.

The project, which revolves around a new group of profilers who work outside the FBI bureaucracy, will be introduced on an episode of "Criminal Minds" in the spring.

Whitaker will play Cooper, the squad leader. Described as dynamic, mysterious, charming and a father figure to the rest of the team, he is a former star profiler in the Behavioral Unit who has been off the radar for the past eight years.

"Minds" executive producer Chris Mundy wrote the planted spinoff, from a story by him and "Minds" executive producer/showrunner Ed Bernero. Richard Shepard is directing.

Like the original series, the potential spinoff is being produced by ABC Studios, the Mark Gordon Co. and CBS Studios.

Producers of the new show zeroed in on Whitaker early and finally moved close to locking him in Monday night after lengthy on- and off- negotiations.

As part of the deal, Whitaker is expected to get a producing credit.

On TV, the WME-repped Whitaker, who won an Oscar in 2007 for "The Last King of Scotland," most recently had arcs on FX's "The Shield" and NBC's "ER."

Thoughts?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nextboldmove_/]

Am I the only one who think he's the most over-rated actor working today????

[moon-blitz.livejournal.com]

I'll probably give the first episode or two a try, just to see how it is. And wow, I never expected the fandom to be so negative towards a spin-off.

[11ovenpeace.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Very iffy.

I dont really like spin-offs, i think the originals are always the best. only CSB spin-off i like is CSI:Miami and just because i fell in love with Ryan Wolfe. Otherwise, forget the spin-offs.

[11ovenpeace.livejournal.com]

CBS* my b.

[iamtheliquorr.livejournal.com]

My thoughts on this spinoff:



I seriously pray we won't be subjected to Grey's/PP-esque crossovers

[tosfan.livejournal.com]

I am still skeptical about how this will work out. I probably won't end up watching it, I'll just stick with Criminal Minds.

[innerslytherin]

This just makes me mad because one of the main characters in my original novel is a Black FBI agent named Cooper. LOL

[dysfunkshunell1.livejournal.com]

*points at your icon* Is THAT your Cooper?! MMM, Michael Ealy. In my CSI rp days, I thought of using him as a cover for Warrick Brown's long lost younger brother or cousin. I wouldn't worry too much about the spin-off using a FBI agent named Cooper. Look at how they changed the names for the original cast, and as talented as Forest Whitaker is -the last thing I think anyone considers him is eye-candy. Yet I may still see your beef as I'm watching Dexter and every time they use 'Morgan' it makes me go -__- LOL

[eiko82.livejournal.com]

At first, I thought they would take the Morgan-Leader line and have him head up his own extension of the BAU team.

I like that idea. It would make sense in a way. Didn't Hotch or Rossi once say that there is more than one BAU team? Think it was right after 'To Hell.... And Back'. So Morgan becoming the team leader of another BAU team would've been cool.

[sisterwitch.livejournal.com]

The spin-off makes me all sad inside, even sadder when what's been released so far makes me want to yawn and turn my attention elsewhere. I really do worry about them splitting focus, and I'd rather they kept it on the original. Also? I also loved that CM was different and unqiue, and I don't see why we need another show about a profiling unit.