TNT Picks Up Alien Invasion Series

A series centered on an alien invasion, starring Noah Wylie and produced by Steven Spielberg is one of three dramas given a green light this week by cable outlet TNT.

The cable network Thursday picked up to series all three of its pilots: the Steven Spielberg-produced alien-invasion drama starring Noah Wyle; the George Clooney-produced “Delta Blues,” starring Jason Lee; and “Rizzoli & Isles,” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander.

TNT head of programming Michael Wright said he didn’t expect to pick up all three pilots in the current cycle to series, but “if it works and is going to improve the performance of the network, we thought let’s find a way to do it.”

The alien-invasion project, written by Robert Rodat from an idea he conceived with Spielberg, stars Wyle as the leader of a rag-tag group of soldiers and civilians struggling against an occupying alien force. Moon Bloodgood, Jessy Schram, Seychelle Gabriel and Maxim Knight co-star.

DreamWorks TV is producing the project, with Spielberg, Rodat, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank executive producing. Carl Franklin directed the pilot.