The Undercovers - New 2010 NBC TV Series by J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams is making a return to the Spy Arena, which he mined at the start of this decade with his ABC hit-series "Alias", starring the likes of Jennifer Garner, Greg Grunberg, Michael Vartan and more.

His new TV Series, Undercovers, will premiere in 2010 and the story revolves around two spies who are working together but the twist is that they are also husband and wife.

ABC, NBC and CBS were all in pursuit of this hot, new spy drama that Abrams wrote with Josh Remis, until NBC clinched a deal with Warner Bros. TV and J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot on Wednesday November 4, 2009.

This deal marks J.J. Abrams' first collaboration with the NBC network, where the series has potential to join the spy dramedy Chuck, when it premieres in the fall of 2010.

Abrams' first project, the sci-fi drama "Fringe", which he co-created under his rich deal with WBTV, was also written on spec and underwent a bidding war in Fall 2007, before scoring a deal with Fox, under a huge commitment.

The co-writer for Undercovers, Josh Reims, started working with J.J. Abrams on Abrams' WB Network series "Felicity". He was also an executive producer alongside Abrams on ABC's "What About Brian." Josh Reims, is repped by UTA while Abrams is repped by WME.

"I think the fun of this new show is that there is lighter and comedic in terms of a sweeter approach. It's not an out and out comedy necessarily but it's combining a genre that I love with an attitude and a tone that I haven't seen before. So that will be at least a fun experiment."

- J.J. Abrams says of his new TV Series Undercovers

J.J. Abrams is reportedly in talks to direct the Warner Bros. pilot of "Undercovers" at NBC.

If schedule permits, J.J. Abrams will make the opening episode of "Undercovers" the first TV pilot he has directed since 2004's "Lost" opener. The same "Lost" opening on ABC which is considered one of the best-directed pilots of all time. The same "Lost" pilot which helped launch Abrams' career into directing theatrical films as "Star Trek" and "Mission Impossible 3."

Abrams is known for producing several TV shows but he is seldom in the director's chair. Some of his rare director roles include an episode of NBC's "The Office" in 2007 and he "guest directed" an episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2006.

Star of Soul Food and having starred in projects like Nip/Tuck and Surrogates, Boris Kodjoe landed the male lead character role in The Undercovers, where he wil play the role of Steven, the husband in the show's main character couple. His wife Samantha is yet to be cast.

The couple's boss, a CIA operative, will be played by Gerald McRaney.

I think it's a brave move on NBC's part, as NBC have been known to predominantly cast Caucasian leads in their major shows. I am anxious to see who will be cast for Samantha's role as it will determine their chemistry togehter which could in the end be the break or fail for The Undercovers.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was cast as Samantha Bloom, wife of Steven Bloom (Boris Kodjoe) on the new TV Series "The Undercovers" by J.J. Abrams, which will premiere in September 2010 on NBC.

For a Photo Gallery of Gugu Mbatha-Raw, lots more pictres, and more information please visit Gugu Mbatha-Raw on Undercovers.

NBC's "Undercovers" has been described as a mix between "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and "The Bourne Identity."

Q: What are you able to say about the new series on NBC, "Undercovers"?

Abrams:

We're just casting now. It's a more wish-fulfilling show. That's not to say it's fantasy or anything, but it's got an energy that I think feels like something I would want to watch, but that doesn't guarantee that anyone else will. For me, it feels fun. Look at the spy genre I've worked in before. While familiar in some ways, it feels very, very different.

- ComingSoon.net

1. SAMANTHA (27 to 37 years old)
The lead wife character. She's very smart, hot, strong and sharp. MUST BE IN GREAT SHAPE. SERIES REGULAR.

2. STEVEN (27 to 37 years old)
The lead husband character. Very attractive, smart, sharp, great sense of humor. MUST BE IN GREAT SHAPE. SERIES REGULAR.

3. CARLTON SHAW (45 to 65 years old)
A powerful presence. Sarcastic. Bright. SERIES REGULAR.

4. LIZZY (18 to 27 years old)
She's cute. A bit of a scatter brain. SERIES REGULAR.

5. BILL HOYT (18 to 29 years old)
Young, enthusiastic. Can be a brownnoser. SERIES REGULAR.