Tom Riley to play da Vinci in series

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- British actor Tom Riley is to play Renaissance-era artist Leonardo da Vinci in the new drama series, Starz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide Productions said.

Riley's casting is the first announced for the historical fantasy series, which was penned by David S. Goyer, co-writer of "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," and writer of the upcoming "Man of Steel."

Starz will premiere the eight-episode da Vinci series in the United States in 2013. BBC Worldwide will distribute the series in international territories.

"Given that da Vinci was the model for the 'Renaissance Man,' these were incredibly large shoes to fill," show-runner Goyer said in a statement Monday. "Leonardo had to be smart, witty, and incredibly confident -- without coming across as arrogant. He also had to be tormented, because, as a true visionary and polymath, he was ostracized for his ideas as much as he was celebrated. Tom came in and was able to effortlessly combine all of those elements. As soon as he finished his audition, we knew we'd found our man."

"Da Vinci is a near mythic figure in history that fascinates people to this day," said Starz's managing director, Carmi Zlotnik. "It is quite an undertaking to bring to life a role that comes with so many preconceived notions. Tom showed us that there are many dimensions to this man yet to be explored, and, at the same time, make him believable, surprising and unique to a worldwide audience."

"Tom is a fabulously charismatic, intelligent and versatile actor," said Jane Tranter, head of BBC Worldwide Productions. "His audition displayed an unabashed energy that we are excited to see unleashed in his performance as a re-imagined artistic genius in 15th century Florence."

Riley is best known for starring in the London stage productions of "My City," "The Vertical Hour" and "The Woman Before," and Broadway's "Arcadia,"

He also appeared in TV's "Monroe," "Bouquet of Barbed Wire" and "Lost in Austen," and his films include "A Few Days In September," "I Want Candy" and "Happy Ever Afters."