The former 'Heroes' starlet will play a teen sensation who teams up with a superstar on tour, while the 'Twilight Saga' beauty is cast as a young designer whose arrival will turn a company inside out.
- Mar 1, 2012
AceShowbiz - Hayden Panettiere is plotting her primetime TV comeback by landing a role in ABC's pilot "Nashville". The 22-year-old, who is best known for playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on "Heroes", will play a teen sensation named Juliette Barnes, Deadline reports.
Set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene, the new drama revolves around a 40-year-old superstar Rayna James, whose star begins fading. She is forced to team up with Juliette on tour in order to maintain her label's support for her latest record, whose sales have been underwhelming.
Prior to Panettiere, Robert Wisdom, Powers Boothe, Clare Bowen and Jonathan Jackson have been cast in "Nashville". The pilot, which is described as a family soap about love, country music, family, politics and sex, is written by Callie Khouri and will be directed by R.J. Cutler.
In another ABC pilot development, Ashley Greene has signed up for "Americana". The Alice Cullen of "Twilight" movie series takes the female lead role, Alice Clarke, and will star opposite Anthony LaPaglia.
LaPaglia plays iconic fashion designer Robert Soulter, who is also the patriarch of a famous fashion industry clan. Greene's character will join Robert's business and her shocking arrival will turn his family and the legendary label on its ear.
Phillip Noyce is set to direct "Americana" with the script provided by Michael Seitzman. The project will mark the second time Greene starring in ABC's show after she recently appeared on "Pan Am" in recurring basis.
