Dick Wolf is looking to some familiar faces as he begins the process of casting the fourth chapter in TV's most successful drama franchise.
Small-screen vets Candice Bergen and John Mahoney have begun talks with Wolf about taking on roles on "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," set to bow early next year on NBC. "L&O" vet Carey Lowell is also said to be in the thesp mix, reprising her role as Jamie Ross.
Jerry Orbach has long been expected to appear on the new skein, having left his role on the original skein last month. Walon Green is expected to serve as exec producer with Wolf, NBC said last month in a press release officially announcing the skein.
Roles on "L&O" skeins are prized in the thesp community, given the franchise's stature -- along with the "CSI" trinity -- as one of TV's few sure things.
Wolf wants to create a sort of repertory company of actors to play the judges on "TBJ," with various actors signing up for multiple episode arcs. Bergen is expected to be one of those judges, casting that would mark her first broadcast series gig since "Murphy Brown."
Bergen has had high-profile guest gigs on "Sex And The City" and "Will & Grace" in the past year and has appeared in the features "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Miss Congeniality."
Mahoney, who's coming off 11 seasons on "Frasier," may be in line for a series regular gig. With Wolf playing his casting cards close to his vest, however, it was hard to nail down whether Mahoney may actually be in talks to play one of the judges.
Whatever the part, a deal would mark a reunion for Wolf and Mahoney: Right before "Frasier," Mahoney starred in Wolf's short-lived CBS drama "The Human Factor" -- thesp's last drama series gig before spending almost a decade on a TV comedy.
No deals for cast members are done, a Wolf Films spokeswoman said, adding that it's "premature to discuss casting" for the series. (As reported by VARIETY)
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