CBS’s “Training Day” pilot has found its young lead in Justin Cornwell.
Described as bright, gung-ho and just two years out of the Academy, Cornwell’s Kyle Craig is one of the good guys — an LAPD cop who is fearless in the face of terrible odds and driven to avenge the murder of his father, also a cop, according to the network. Tapped to go undercover, Kyle is reassigned to the Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.), where he’s supposed to take down rogue cop Frank Rourke (Bill Paxton).
Here’s the official logline: In this reimagining that begins 15 years after the film left off, an idealistic young African-American police officer is appointed to an elite squad of the LAPD where he is partnered with a seasoned, morally ambiguous Caucasian detective.
Cornwell is repped by Gray Talent Group.
Will Beall is executive producer and writer, and Barry Schindel is show runner and executive producer. Danny Cannon is director and executive producer. Other executive producers include Antoine Fuqua, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman. KristieAnne Reed is a co-executive producer.
The TV adaptation hails from Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Fuqua Films in association with Warner Bros. Television. It’s based on the 2001 feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. The big-screen version starred Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.
And here is the rest of the cast and their character descriptions, in CBS’s own words:
Paxton: Frank Rourke – a veteran LAPD cop who heads up the Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.), a unit that goes after the worst of the worst. He lives by the law of the jungle and believes that real courage is the will to chase the bad guys where the law won’t. Needless to say, Frank isn’t too keen to be babysitting a new trainee, Kyle Craig.
Drew Van Acker: Tommy Campbell – An officer with the LAPD’s Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.), a unit that goes after the worst of the worst, Tommy Campbell is a former pro surfer who’s usually seen in board shorts; he may still look like a surfer, but he’s traded in riding the waves for the dangerous highs that come from swimming with a different type of shark.
Katrina Law: Detective Rebecca Lee – Tough, competent and all business, Detective Rebecca Lee is an LAPD officer with the LAPD’s Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.); rescued from human traffickers by Frank (Paxton) when she was 4 years old, Rebecca looks up to him as the father she never had.
Lex Scott Davis: Alyse Arrendondo – Smart and cynical, Alyse Arredondo is a history teacher who loves and greatly admires her husband, Kyle (not yet cast), an LAPD officer, and his insatiable drive — despite his reckless displays of heroism.
Julie Benz: Holly McCabe – This unapologetic Hollywood madam looks like a woman half her age and takes pride in how well she treats her girls. In addition to having a tacit understanding with Frank, they are also a couple.