Katherine Heigl is inching closer to returning to TV.
NBC has officially picked up drama State of Affairs to pilot, coming more than three months after the network landed the project following a multiple network bidding war.
The CIA project is being developed at Universal Television with Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces) on board to write, exec produce and direct. Alexi Hawley (The Following) will also exec produce alongside Robert Simonds, Heigl and her mother/manager, Nancy Heigl, Bob Simonds, Sophie Watts, Rodney Faraon, Henry Crumpton and Julia Franz.
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The drama, described as Scandal meets The West Wing, revolves around a maverick CIA officer (Heigl) who was plucked from the field to become the president's daily briefer, assuming responsibility for targeting America's most critical threats while navigating the unique lifestyle that comes with such a high-powered job.
For the actress, the drama -- should it go to series -- would mark her return to the small screen following her breakout role as Izzie on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Heigl left the drama in 2010 to pursue other opportunities following a creative clash with producers.
The decision to move forward with the drama comes as Heigl's film career has faded after the actress' romantic comedies including Knocked Up and 27 Dresses. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter in September that Heigl could have continued to be a big-screen draw but has come across as difficult. The actress publicly aired grievances about both Grey's and Knocked Up, the latter of which she described as "sexist."
Heigl and her mother declined comment for THR's September story, but a source close to the star said the actress was aware that she needs to rebuild. "She's really determined to put everything behind her," says this insider. "The only way to do that is to go to work in film or television with good people and for those people to have good things to report back. And it's not an overnight thing." But this source adds that Heigl's problem primarily is with the industry. "There's a really loyal, huge fan base that's waiting to see her," he says.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
