Sam Neill, Sean Bean cast in 'Crusoe'

Sam Neill and Sean Bean have been cast in a new series in production for US television based on the story of Robinson Crusoe.

In flashbacks to Crusoe's life on the mainland, Bean will play his father James and Neill a family friend, Jeremiah Blackthorn.

Crusoe will be played by Philip Winchester (Thunderbirds) and his love interest, Susannah, by Anna Walton (Hellboy II).

Crusoe, which will first be aired by US network NBC in the autumn, is being made by UK production company Power.

Justin Bodle, the company's chief executive, has billed the 13-part season as "a landmark piece of event television". It has a production budget of $25m (£13m), according to reports. It has yet to be picked up by a UK broadcaster.

Power believes that the series is the first directly commissioned from a UK indie by a US network in 40 years.

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