Jennifer Beals cast in Taken television spin-off

Jennifer Beals has been cast as the lead in a new series inspired by the Taken film series.
The Flashdance actress joins Vikings actor Clive Standen in the upcoming NBC series, which will serve as a prequel to the popular movie trilogy starring Liam Neeson.
In 2008 film Taken, Neeson plays Mills a retired CIA agent with a “very particular set of skills” who tracks down his daughter after she is abducted.
The series will follow a younger version of Mills, played by Clive, before he was married or had children, as he develops his wealth of expertise.
According to Deadline, Jennifer, 52, will star as Christina Hart, the Special Deputy Director of National Intelligence who has taken Mills under her wing.
Her character is described as cultured and powerful with a wealth of field experience.
“Her current government position has her overseeing an elite team of operatives who take care of America’s national security emergencies,” they add.
Over the course of the past few decades, Jennifer has worked in a variety of genres, taking on leading roles in film such as The Bride and has also starred in the TV series The L Word, The Chicago Code and most recently drama series Proof, which was cancelled after one season.
Universal Television is producing the series with EuropaCorp, the production company belonging to film director Luc Besson.
Alex Cary will produce and serve as showrunner on the series, which was picked up by the network last year (15), and Alex Graves best known for House of Cards and Game of Thrones will direct.