Weller, History Channel join for 'Empire'

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Hollywood film actor Peter Weller is set to take to the smaller screen with the upcoming History Channel series, "Engineering an Empire."

The 59-year-old actor, best known for his title role in a pair of "Robocop" films, will serve as the host of the new TV series as it explores the history behind the greatest empires the world ever knew, said the New York Daily News.

Weller, who is seeking his Ph.D. and has a master's degree in Renaissance art, said that the international historical series has already expanded his own wealth of knowledge.

"I can't tell you how much I personally learned from doing this show," Weller said. "Not just about history but about the soul of mankind. They let me do a lot of my own research and writing, because in addition to hosting, I'm supposed to be the Hollywood/scholar guy who can make it entertaining."

The series, that was created from a History Channel special entitled "Rome: Engineering an Empire," will not be Weller's first TV venture.

The Daily News said that the actor had limited roles last year on the USA Network's detective comedy "Monk" and on Fox's hit series, "24."