CBS ‘Limitless’ Sets Bradley Cooper to Recur, Now Direct Sequel to Film

CBS’ announcement and pickup of its Limitless TV series came with the unsurprising attachment that original film star Bradley Cooper would pitch in as executive producer. Now however, we’ve learned not only that Cooper will appear in the pilot, but also that the Guardians of the Galaxy star will even recur from time to time, picking up his role from the film.

Per Deadline, Cooper will appear in the pilot as now-Senator Edward Mora, mentor to the leading role of Brian Finch, portrayed by Cooper’s American Sniper co-star Jake McDorman. Cooper also now reveals his intent to appear on the CBS series as much as his schedule permits, though his character may take a sinister turn, as the official synopsis implies:

LIMITLESS, based on the feature film, is a fast-paced drama about Brian Finch (Jake McDorman), who discovers the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT and is coerced by the FBI into using his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. Working closely with Brian in the major case squad in New York City is Special Agent Rebecca Harris (Jennifer Carpenter), a formidable investigator with a dark past, and Special Agent Boyle (Hill Harper), a former military officer and Rebecca’s confidante. They report to Special Agent in Charge Nasreen “Naz” Pouran (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), a canny manipulator of the reins of power.

Unbeknownst to the FBI, Brian also has a clandestine relationship with Senator Edward Mora (Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper, recurring), a presidential hopeful and regular user of NZT who has plans of his own for his new protégé. Fueled now with a steady supply of NZT that enables him to use 100% of his brain capacity, Brian is more effective than all of the FBI agents combined, making him a criminal’s worst nightmare and the greatest asset the Bureau has ever possessed.

Craig Sweeny, Marc Webb, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Heather Kadin, Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, Ryan Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley and Tom Forman are executive producers for CBS Television Studios in association with K/O Paper Products and Relativity Television.

The pilot was directed by Marc Webb (“The Amazing Spider-Man” 1 and 2 Feature Films).

For those unfamiliar with the 2011 film that grossed around $160 million worldwide, Limitless featured Cooper in the role of a struggling writer who undergoes a drug trial that expands his cognitive abilities to using 100% of his brain power, thereafter attracting unwanted attention from shadowy forces. The thriller also starred Robert de Niro and Abbie Cornish.

Certainly an unexpected move, but will CBS’ Limitless live up to the film, even with Cooper’s direct involvement? Stay tuned later today for an official trailer.