'Nikita's Aaron Stanford & 'Suits' Amanda Schull Joining '12 Monkeys' Pilot

Back in July, TVRage brought you the news that Syfy was adapting the 1995 Terry Gilliam time travel film '12 Monkeys' for television. About a month ago, it was announced that 'Caprica' helmer Jeffrey Reiner was being brought on to direct the pilot. As of today, two of the principal roles have been filled, and a showrunner for the series has been named.

First up, actor Aaron Stanford (a regular on The CW's 'Nikita,' and "Pyro" in the 'X-Men' sequels) has been cast as lead character James Cole. Played by Bruce Willis in the Gilliam film, Cole is a criminal living in a post-apocalyptic future. Sometime in the late 1990s (a time period which will obviously have to be updated for the TV version), a virus wiped out most of the human population, forcing survivors to take refuge underground. Scientists have since invented a means to travel through time, and Cole becomes their reluctant guinea pig. If he can locate a sample of the original virus for study, he'll earn a full pardon for his crimes.

The second addition to the cast is Amanda Schull ('Suits,' 'Pretty Little Liars'), who will portray female lead Cassandra Railly. Railly is Cole's doctor, following a botched first attempt at sending him back in time. Cole is accidentally sent too far back in history, and his ravings about a coming doomsday virus lead to his institutionalization in a psychiatric facility. Railly is charged with diagnosing his mental state. The character was played by Madeline Stowe in the film, and was then named Kathryn.

The role of crazed fellow patient Jeffrey Goines (played by Brad Pitt in the film) has yet to be cast. Natalie Chaidez ('In Plain Sight,' 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,') will serve as executive producer and showrunner, provided the pilot gets picked up to series.

Do you think '12 Monkeys' story (which was itself an adaptation of the French short 'La Jetee') will be successfully translated to the small screen?