Christopher Egan stars in drama; ABC orders four more

NBC has found a lead actor for its present-day take on the story of King David, and ABC has given the go-ahead to four more pilots.

Christopher Egan ("Eragon") has signed on to the lead role in "Kings." The Australian actor is no stranger to American TV, having co-starred in FOX's "Vanished" and the ABC miniseries "Empire."

ABC, meanwhile, has greenlit three new drama pilots -- all of them crime procedurals -- and a comedy called "Bad Mother's Handbook," the showbiz trade papers report.

"Kings" was created by "Heroes" writer-producer Michael Green. It's a contemporary, soapy take on the story of David (Egan), a young man who gains entree to a royal court when he saves the life of the king's son. Green has also worked on "Everwood" and "Jack & Bobby."

ABC's pilot orders are the latest in a flurry of activity at the network this week. "Bad Mother's Handbook" comes from writers Jennifer Konner and Alexandra Rushfield, who created "Help Me Help You" for the network last season. It centers on a 32-year-old mom who finds all her time taken up in caring for her 16-year-old daughter and her 48-year-old mother.

The dramas all involve crime-solving of one sort or another. "Castle" follows a novelist who consults with the NYPD on cases; it was written by Andrew Marlowe ("Air Force One," "Hollow Man"), who's executive producing with Armyan Bernstein ("Children of Men," "Firewall") and Laurie Zaks.

"Bones" scribe Noah Hawley is writing "The Unusuals," which blends comedy and drama in telling the story of a New York police precinct. Hawley will also executive produce with Peter Tolan ("Rescue Me," "The Job"). "Finnegan" focuses on the female head of a vice and organized crime unit in Los Angeles. Writer Trent Jones ("Threat Matrix," "As the World Turns") and Francie Calfo are exec producing.