The upcoming NCIS spinoff has begun to gather its talent.

Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J are in negotiations to star in the much-anticipated NCIS spinoff, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The plan is that O’Donnell is going to play Callen, an average guy — which of course makes him the perfect undercover chameleon, changing from one identity to the next. In turn, LL Cool J is eyeing the role of Sam Hannah, a tough but charming ex-Navy Seal.

As CBS President Nina Tassler had announced during the January press tour, the pilot for the new show will debut as an episode of NCIS this spring, just as the NCIS pilot started out as an episode of JAG.

O’Connell has worked with CBS before as a guest star on Two and a Half Men. His most recent TV credits are the TNT miniseries The Company and a stint on Grey’s Anatomy.

In 2006, LL Cool J signed a development deal with CBS, which led to the pilot The Man.

In other CBS news, the network is courting Anna Friel — of Pushing Daisies resurrection fame — for their Washington-set political drama House Rules. They’ll have to get in line though, since ABC also wants her for one of their dramas, either I, Claudia or Eastwick.

Source: Zap2It

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