Jason O'Mara is taking the lead role in the U.S. production of Life on Mars, according to the Hollywood Reporter.  The series focuses on the life and times of Sam Tyler, a detective who has a very bad day and winds up getting transported to 1973.  The UK version has received rave reviews, so the U.S. cast has a lot to live up to, and David E. Kelley (Boston Legal, Ally McBeal) and Thomas Schlamme (Sports Night, The West Wing) are going to try to deliver.

Schlamme said, "When I read the script, the bad news was (that) in order for the project to work, we needed an actor who could play confident yet lost, forceful yet frightened, withdrawn yet available, and uncompromising yet funny.  Thegood news is we got Jason O'Mara."

Kelley said, "This is a complicated character with many colors.  After an exhaustive search, we’re thrilled to have cast Jason O’Mara. He is a tremendous talent, and we are confident that he will live up to the potential of the character and of the series."

O'Mara has appeared in Men in Trees and The Agency, and can be seen later this year in "Resident Evil: Extinction."  Rachelle Lefevre is also attached to the project as the female lead.