'Dead' stars reunite for 'L.A. Noir'

Actors Jon Bernthal and Jeffrey DeMunn and producer Frank Darabont are reuniting for a TV crime drama based on John Buntin's book "L.A. Noir," TNT announced. The trio previously worked together on AMC's contemporary zombie drama "The Walking Dead." Bernthal's and DeMunn's respective characters Shane and Dale were killed off at the end of Season 2 and Darabont was replaced as showrunner after the first season. TNT said Wednesday it has ordered six episodes of their new, as-yet-untitled project, which is set in Los Angeles in the 1940s and '50s. It "chronicles the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen," the cable network said in a release. Darabont wrote and directed the pilot, while Bernthal and DeMunn will play cops in the series. The cast also includes Neal McDonough, Milo Ventimiglia, Ron Rifkin, Pihla Viitala and Alexa Davalos. "This series is an intense, exciting drama that takes viewers back to a truly fascinating time in the history of Los Angeles," Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies, said in a statement. "[Producers] Frank Darabont, Michael De Luca and Elliott Webb have delivered an outstanding opening episode that evokes the time and place in stunning detail. Together with a pitch-perfect ensemble cast and top-notch production crew, they have woven an engrossing tale of heroism in the face of greed and corruption. We're very excited to be working with such talented storytellers in bringing this project to life."