Casting Scoops: A Hero, A Beauty and More

Sit back and get comfortable, TV Fanatics. We've got a slew of pilot casting scoops for you take in...

Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) will make her return to the small screen on Nashville, an ABC drama described as a soap opera set in the world of country music. The actress will play a teenage singer named Juliette Barnes. Jonathan Jackson and Powers Boothe will also star.

Minnie Driver will play the best friend of Andrea Anders on NBC's Lady Friends, created by Kari Lizer and based on two close pals who live very different lives.

Matt Lauria will enter Shondland. The former Friday Night Lights and The Chicago Code star has signed on for ABC's Gilded Lilys, which will be set in 1895 and centered around New York’s first luxury hotel.

Amber Stevens (Greek) will portray the female lead on Dakota, a CW pilot about a documentary filmmaker who travels back in time to save the man she loves from an untimely death.

Leah Remini is headed back to television. The former King of Queens actress has signed on for White Van Man, a single-camera sitcom on ABC that stars Kyle Bornheimer as a guy who takes over his family's handyman business. Remini will play the cousin of the main character.

Amy Smart (Shameless) will come on board Bad Girls, an NBC adaption of a British hit that features the beautiful actress as an inmate.

Ruth Bradley will play one half of the title pairing on ABC's Beauty and the Beast. The Irish actress will appear opposite Darius Campbell, who will portray a bodyguard to Bradley's princess. Chris Egan will star as as her fiancé, Gorrick.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.