J.J. Abrams Brings 'Star Trek's' Karl Urban to the Small Screen

It would seem that J.J. Abrams appreciates actor Karl Urban’s work on “Star Trek” enough to keep handing him projects, because Urban will now be appearing as the lead (opposite Michael Ealy of “Seven Pounds”) in a new FOX production produced by Abrams and J.H. Wyman (“Fringe).

Urban recently closed a lengthy negotiation to star in the drama, which is currently untitled -- though was formerly called “Inhuman” and has possibly been shortened to “Human”-- and features a future where humans work with “evolved, human-like androids” to solve crime.

The show is described as an “action-packed buddy cop show,” produced by Warner Bros. TV and Bad Robot. It will center around cop John Kennex, played by Urban, and his android partner Dorian (Ealy).

Urban’s character is described as a man “who has shut down emotionally after a tragic mission that claimed the lives of nine of his fellow elite officers and left him critically injured.”

The show will also feature Lili Taylor as the police captain, Minka Kelly (“Charlie’s Angels”), Mackenzie Crook (“Pirates of the Caribbean”), and Michael Irby (“Law Abiding Citizen”). Brad Anderson, also of “Fringe,” is set to direct.

Urban is also set to re-appear as Bones in “Star Trek 2: Into Darkness,” which will be hitting theaters this May.

Does the concept of an android buddy cop drama interest you?

It might be a bit of a worn-out premise at this point, but if anyone can breathe new life into it, it’s J.J. Abrams. Will you tune in?