TNT's 'Dallas' Sequel Books Larry 'J.R.' Hagman

Every year, TV networks produce many more pilots than will ever get launched as series. But cable network TNT has given its planned sequel to "Dallas," the venerable primetime soap of yesteryear, a boost that will increase its odds at a series pickup: Original series stars Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, and Larry Hagman will all return to play their former characters.

Given that "Dallas" — the story of the Ewing family and its oil business — was such a huge hit in the '70s and '80s, producers have tried to revive it before; a few years ago, the idea was to reboot it as a feature film, starring John Travolta, Shirley MacLaine, Luke Wilson, and Jennifer Lopez reinterpreting the series's original characters.

TNT's take picks back up with a new generation of Ewings. It's a sound approach for a production aiming to attract a new generation of fans, and one that has worked for TeenNick's "Degrassi" and The CW's "90210." Though with Hagman providing continuity with the original "Dallas," I suppose that makes him this production's Jennie Garth.

The younger cast includes "Desperate Housewives" co-star Josh Henderson (as J.R.'s son John Ross) and "Fast & Furious" cast member Jordana Brewster (as a mysterious woman who causes problems between John Ross and Bobby Ewing's son Christopher, as-yet uncast), and it remains to be seen how well they do playing nouveau-riche oil millionaires. As for the 79-year-old Hagman: Considering the photo above was taken in this decade, it's possible he's never really stopped playing J.R.

By Tara Ariano