Ashley Judd Jumps to TV for ‘Missing’ Action Drama

Ashley Judd is joining more and more film stars that are hitting the small screen, though production values these days usually mirror that of a movie. The new ABC series which has been in development for a while is called Missing, and it’s story echoes Liam Neesons’ hit movie Taken.  The show centers on Becca Winstone (Judd), a devoted single mom who learns that her 18-year-old son who’s been working in Italy on a Fellowship in Architecture, has suddenly disappeared.

The 41-year-old actress, who’s been pursuing her master’s degree in public administration at Harvard, is now ready to make the jump to full-time TV after headlining such films as ‘Kiss the Girls’ and ‘Double Jeopardy’. Her upcoming flick ‘Dolphin Tale’ opens this September and she has her memoir All That is Bitter & Sweet, that’s getting released on April 5th.

The new series ‘Missing’ is written by Greg Poirier (National Treasure: Book of Secrets) who’s also on board as an executive producer, and Steve Shill who’s directing credits include ‘Dexter’, will helm the pilot and other episodes. Production is scheduled to begin at the end of March shooting in Rome, Vienna and Prague.

Similar to Neeson’s character who was an ex CIA hitman of sorts, making it easier for him to locate his daughter, Judd will be a former CIA operative who’s likely just as versed in dispensing her own form of punishment. For a TV series it sound like an exciting premise with a reversal of the familiar story,  and shooting in Europe instead of using sets or green screen trickery,  means the show will look great.

The project was slated for a summer debut, but now looks set to launch in the new TV season around September, one to catch.

via: Deadline