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Damian Lewis joins Danes, Patinkin and Fraser for Showtime's 'Homeland'

By April MacIntyre Jan 4, 2011, 17:27 GMT

11/11/2010 - Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" World Premiere - Arrivals - Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square - London, UK © Landmark / PR Photos

Damian Lewis (Life, Band of Brothers) will star opposite Claire Danes in Showtime's new, one-hour drama pilot Homeland.

It was announced today that Lewis will play U.S. Marine Sergeant Scott Brody, a POW "who miraculously returns home after nearly a decade of captivity in Iraq." 

Other casting news includes Laura Fraser (A Knight's Tale) inked for the role of Jessica, Brody's "intrepid and complicated" wife. 

Diego Klattenhoff will play Mike Faber, a Marine colonel and Brody's best friend who has become close with Jessica over the years that he has been MIA. 

Production commences in January 2011 and will be executive produced by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

From Showtime:

"Homeland" was written by Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa and Gideon Raff, centers on an American soldier (Lewis) taken prisoner during the Iraq invasion in 2003.  Left for dead, he miraculously returns to the U.S. after years in captivity.  Carrie Anderson (Danes), a driven CIA officer battling her own psychological demons, becomes convinced that the intelligence that led to his re-capture was a setup and that this national hero may be connected to an Al Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil.   Mandy Patinkin plays Saul, a veteran CIA Division Chief who is Carrie’s boss and mentor.