Ryan Phillippe Has Been Cast in the CBS Frankenstein Series ALIVE

A couple months ago, we reported that CBS was making a pilot for a series based (very loosely) on the Frankenstein story, wherein a police officer is brought back to life. Here’s the synopsis we reported from an EW report:

This latest and very loose adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel follows a San Francisco homicide detective who “is mysteriously brought back to life after being killed in the line of duty. But as he resumes his old life and he and his wife realize he isn’t the same person he used to be, they zero in on the strange man behind his resurrection – Dr. Victor Frankenstein.”

Now we know that the role of the police detective is going to be played by Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Shooter). Here is a more detailed plot description given by Variety:

The Cruel Intentions star will play Mark Escher, a San Francisco police investigator who was presumed dead after an attack and destructive fire at his home. Six months later, he shockingly reappears and is reunited with his wife, Elizabeth. But something has changed. A shadow has fallen across his sunny disposition, and he’s haunted by visions of the case he was working on when he died. He and Elizabeth will seek answers about who shot and abducted him, and what was done to him.

Phillippe’s wife will be played by Katrina Law (Arrow), and Victor Frankenstein will be played by Aaron Staton (Mad Men). Jason Tracey will write and executive produce, with Uta Briesewitz on board to direct and executive produce, and Rob Doherty will also serve as an EP.

What do you think of this idea? It sounds like it might just be different enough from the Frankenstein storyline that it may work as its own thing. Will you be giving it a chance?