Co-created by Vince Gilligan, of ‘Breaking Bad’ fame.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Kal Penn has become the first actor signed onto the upcoming CBS series “Battle Creek,” a new crime drama from Sony Television and co-created by Vince Gilligan, the mastermind behind the AMC television phenomenon “Breaking Bad.”
The show is about an FBI detective and a local police officer in the town of Battle Creek, Michigan, who team up to fight crime and clean the streets of the dilapidated town. Penn will star as a fellow local detective who is initially apprehensive of the FBI’s presence in the town, but ultimately plays a critical part in helping the duo apprehend criminals in the town.
“Battle Creek” was originally written by Gilligan back in 2002, but failed to pick up any traction within the industry. After the roaring success of “Breaking Bad,” which ended its five-season run last year, Gilligan has become hot property, and has been careful in choosing which shows to attach his name to. Penn’s involvement with a show by Gilligan means the actor will have yet another high-profile television gig to add to his resume.
The show is being executive produced by David Shore, who will also serve as show runner. Shore and Penn have a prior business relationship from “House,” as Shore was also on the creative team behind that hit medical show. Penn was a cast member on “House” for two seasons before leaving when offered a position at the White House Office of Public Engagement by President Barack Obama.
“Battle Creek” will also mark Penn’s return to CBS, after briefly featuring on the hit sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” and the short-lived television show “We Are Men.” Penn’s addition to “Battle Creek” extends his considerable television resume; in fact, the actor has not featured in a major film role since 2011, when he co-starred in A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas, the third (and likely final) film in the “Harold and Kumar’ series that made him famous.
In addition to his television roles, Penn has also acted in American Desi (2000), Van Wilder (2002), and The Namesake (2007). He has also been a guest professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Born Kalpen Modi, Penn was raised in New Jersey.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com