After a compelling story-arc on HBO's
Big Love, Oscar winner Sissy Spacek has decided to linger on the small screen. According to
The Hollywood Reporter, the 60-year-old actress has been cast as the on CBS' medical drama pilot that revolves around a "mobile team of volunteer doctors led by a driven visionary that travels the world and the U.S. helping those in need."
Spacek (
Carrie, Coal Miner's Daughter) will play the "driven visionary" who also expects her team to be as dedicated as she is. But things are expected to take a turn for the worse for Spacek's character when she's diagnosed with cancer, which requires regular chemo treatments. It also doesn't help when her physician daughter decides to join her team.
The John Wells-produced project is the second major drama pilot this season whose lead character's gender has been changed from male to female for an Oscar-winning actress, according to the Hollywood Reporter. David E. Kelley's
Kindreds was originally spearheaded by a male character until Kathy Bates joined to take the lead. As for the CBS pilot, Spacek's character will be named Adrianne instead of the initially intended Adrian.
Joining the
Big Love actress in this yet to be titled project are Rachelle Lefevre (
Twilight), Skeet Ulrich (
Jericho), Amy Smart, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Beach and Jay Hernandez.
(Image courtesy of Wire Image)