TNT Picks Up Frank Darabont’s ‘L.A. Noir’ With ‘Walking Dead’ Stars, May Re-Title

Finally!  After months of radio silence and plenty of speculation, it seems former 'Walking Dead' show-runner Frank Darabont's new TNT drama is a go.  Though the network apparently refers to the series as untitled, 'L.A. Noir' has officially been picked up by TNT for a limited order.  And who better to appear in the new period drama, than similarly discarded 'Walking Dead' stars Jon Bernthal and Jeffrey DeMunn?  Get all the details of the new series inside!

Frank Darabont has officially come back to life.  After his unceremonious departure from AMC's literal monster-hit 'The Walking Dead,' TNT has officially ordered six episodes of 'The Shawshank Redemption' director's ambitious new period drama 'L.A. Noir.'  Or at least, that's what we've been calling it, until TNT's announcement described it as "Untitled Frank Darabont Drama."

Based on the John Buntin novel 'L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City,' the series reunites Darabont with fellow 'The Walking Dead' cast-offs Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale) and Jon Bernthal (Shane).  Darabont will write and direct the pilot as well as executive produce the series, along with Michael De Luca and Elliot Webb.  Check out TNT's official description of the series:

This new series tells the true story of a decades-long conflict between the Los Angeles Police Department, under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who rose to the top of L.A.'s criminal world.

The new drama stars Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) as Joe Teague, an ex-Marine now working as an LAPD cop in an era rampant with police corruption. Jeffrey DeMunn (The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption) plays Det. Hal Morrison, who heads up the LAPD's new mob squad, with Jeremy Strong (The Happening, Lincoln) as Det. Mike Hendry, Morrison's second in command. Neal McDonough (Captain America, Desperate Housewives) is Capt. William Parker, Teague's boss who is determined to weed out corruption and bring down Mickey Cohen. And Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) plays Ned Stax, who fought alongside Teague during World War II but who now works as a lawyer with connections to the mob.

The series also stars Ron Rifkin (Alias, L.A. Confidential) as Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron, who makes it his mission to clean up corruption in city government; Pihla Viitala (Tears of April) as Anya, the head bartender at Bunny's on Central Avenue, the West Coast center of the African-American jazz scene; and Alexa Davalos (Clash of the Titans, The Mist) as Jasmine, a beautiful woman whose past has come back to haunt her.

In the pilot, Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead) guest-stars as Hecky Nash, a third-rate comedian and mob hanger-on.

Take a look at the photo below, and tell us if you have any interest in checking out TNT's new Frank Darabont period drama 'L.A. Noir,' or whatever they end up calling it!