NBC thriller casts Gillian Anderson for pilot

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Gillian Anderson was recently cast for a multi-episode guest arc on the upcoming NBC series "Hannibal," and now it seems her relationship with the network may expand to her first starring role on U.S. television since "X-Files."

"Life" producer Rand Ravich wrote the pilot and will executive produce the untitled conspiracy drama centered around a shadowy puppeteer who will threaten and crush global powers. But this time around Anderson won't play a secret agent in a sharp pantsuit. Instead, she will play Meg Fitch, a powerful CEO whose daughter and classmates are abducted.

Rachael Taylor, star of the short-lived "666 Park Avenue," will play Agent Susie Dunn, estranged sister to Anderson's Fitch. Dunn is a highly trained FBI agent who takes the lead on the mass abduction case, bringing her back into contact with her sister. Fitch will use her CEO smarts and connections to help find her daughter.

Since "X-Files" ended in 2002, Anderson has appeared in British television and miniseries, and several literary adaptations including "Bleak House" and most recently, Encore's production of "Moby Dick." Taylor has fewer television successes behind her — "666 Park Avenue" and "Charlie's Angels" were cut after only a handful of episodes, though her guest arc on "Grey's Anatomy" is memorable to fans.