William H. Macy set for Showtime pilot

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- William H. Macy has signed on to star in a one-hour drama pilot for the U.S. adaptation of the British TV series "Shameless," Showtime said Friday.

The American cable television network is teaming up with producer John Wells for the project, which is to be shot in December. Wells has previously worked on "ER," "The West Wing" and "Third Watch."

Paul Abbott, the series' original creator, is executive producing the Showtime remake, which will be set in contemporary Chicago.

Macy's film credits include "Fargo," "Pleasantville" and "Seabiscuit."

The announcement regarding the project was made Friday by Robert Greenblatt, president of entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc.

"We are honored to be bringing arguably the best American and British television producers together for this unique look at a very complicated family," Greenblatt said in a statement. "And you've never quite seen dysfunctional family drama this way before due largely to the fact that Paul Abbott lived it. And this compelling look at a family teetering on the edge gets even better with the extraordinarily gifted William H. Macy playing the father you wish you never had."

"I'm delighted to be working with Showtime to adapt Paul Abbott's controversial and thoroughly hilarious show for American audiences," Wells said. "'Shameless' is wildly politically incorrect and painfully honest. With one of my favorite actors, Bill Macy, agreeing to join us, I can't wait to get started."