Kristen Connolly, Billy Burke join 'Zoo' cast

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Kristen Connolly and Billy Burke have joined the cast of Zoo, a new drama series based on the bestselling novel of the same name by James Patterson, CBS announced Thursday.

The program is to be broadcast on the network this summer.

Burke and Connolly join previously announced series regulars James Wolk, Nora Arnezeder and Nonso Anozie.

Connolly will play Jamie, "a passionate young journalist intent on uncovering the story behind the mysterious animal behavior she's been tracking," CBS said in press notes. "Burke has been cast as Mitch, an off-kilter animal veterinarian who prefers the simple company of animals to navigating the complexities of humans."

Zoo is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans.