Pilot spotlights congressional landscape

"Commander in Chief" ended up becoming a lame duck, but perhaps creator Rod Lurie will have better luck with another woman in power project.

Lurie's 2004 pilot "Capital City" was rejected by ABC, but the fledgling CW has decided to give it a try instead. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network has made a deal to redevelop the project.

At the time, Leslie Bibb ("Popular," "Crossing Jordan") starred in the original two-hour pilot about Paige Armstrong, a young woman trying to navigate through the choppy congressional waters. Peter Fonda, David Paymer, Tom Berenger and Mary Steenburgen co-starred.

Lurie will write and executive produce the new version. If the show is picked up, he's also set to direct.

Lurie, 44, had also created ABC's short-lived "Line of Fire." For the big screen, he also wrote and directed "Deterrence" and "The Contender," which received two Oscar nominations for actors Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges. He also co-wrote and directed the upcoming boxing feature "Resurrecting the Champ" starring Josh Hartnett.