First announced back in May, HBO's series based on the documentary Cocaine Cowboys is finally moving forward with big-screen heavyweights on board with the project.  Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay are executive producing the drama pilot, while Meredith Stiehm, creator and executive producer of the CBS drama Cold Case, will serve as writer and executive producer as well.

Inspired by Billy Corben's 2006 documentary, Cocaine Cowboys chronicles the early days of cocaine trafficking in Miami.  Warned Bros. TV is also on board to run physical production on Cowboys, should it get the green light.  This project marks Bruckheimer's first foray into a pay-cable series after he recently landed his first basic-cable pilot with TNT's The Line.

Some of Bruckheimer's TV credits include the CSI franchise, Without A Trace, and Eleventh Hour. Bay is noted for directing blockbuster features such as Bad Boys, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and Transformers.  As for Stiehm, she is credited for her work on ER, NYPD Blue and Beverly Hills 90210.

In other news, Jeff Fahey has signed on to guest star in an early 2009 episode of Cold Case. Fahey most recently appeared on Criminal Minds, The Cleaner, Psych, Matchmaker Mary and recurrently played copter pilot Frank Lapidus on the ABC series Lost.

On his upcoming guest gig on Cold Case, Fahey will be playing the owner of a boutique motorcycle customization shop who has cleaned up from his early days as a biker.

Cold Case aired its last fresh episode for the year on Sunday, featuring Rush and the team investigating the 1960 case of a murdered stewardess when her bones are found in an old hotel being converted into condominiums.  The episode also featured songs recorded by the legendary Frank Sinatra.

Fans can catch a new episode of Cold Case when the series returns with new episodes beginning January 4 on CBS.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image courtesy of Bravo)