Source:NBC

May 22, 2008

NBC announced today that Sam Neill ("The Tudors," Jurassic Park), Sean Bean ("The Lord of the Rings") and Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2) will join the cast of NBC's new landmark series, "Crusoe" an epic and ambitious take on Daniel Defoe's legendary tale.

"Crusoe" finds the dashing and resourceful Crusoe (Philip Winchester, Thunderbirds) after many years of being a castaway on a desert island with his companion Friday (casting to follow). Written by Stephen Gallagher ("Eleventh Hour") and directed by Duane Clark ("CSI: NY"), "Crusoe" follows the adventures of the two island dwellers while looking in flashback at Crusoe's life before he was thrown into an isolated existence filled with danger and adventure.

Among those are his tragic childhood with widower father James (Bean), the blossoming relationship with the love of his life, Susannah (Walton) and his endeavor to transform entrepreneurial aspirations into a business empire under the watchful eye of family friend, Jeremiah Blackthorn (Neill). Overcoming marauding militias, hungry cannibals, wild cats, starvation and apocalyptic lightning storms on his seemingly idyllic island, Crusoe dreams of the day he will be reunited with his beloved family.

Due to film in the United Kingdom, South Africa and the Seychelles, "Crusoe" is a distinctive, dramatic and daring story, laced with humor and plenty of high-octane action.