Series pickup for show already on schedule

Given that NBC has already put the drama "Kings" on its schedule for 2008-09, you'd figure that it had already received a series order.

That apparently wasn't the case, however, because late Monday the network announced it was giving the show, which stars Ian McShane and Christopher Egan, a pickup for midseason.

The spot on the schedule came before any footage of the two-hour pilot, written by Michael Green ("Heroes") and directed by Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend"), was actually shot. Now that NBC has seen some footage of the show, it's dotted the proverbial i's and made the series pickup official

"We've always loved this concept," NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman says. "After watching the production that's currently under way ... we want to continue telling the story with a series commitment."

"Kings" is a contemporary take on the biblical story of David. Egan ("Vanished," "Eragon") plays David, a young warrior who rescues the king's (McShane, "Deadwood") son and is invited to join the court. He also wins the affection of the king's daughter (Allison Miller).

Susanna Thompson ("Once and Again") and Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl") also star in the series. It's slated to air on Sunday nights starting in early 2009.