'The Beast' Will Premiere in January '09 on A&E

The Beast, a new, scripted drama series from Sony Pictures Television starring Patrick Swayze and newcomer Travis Fimmel premiering in January on A&E.

The Beast centers on an unorthodox but effective FBI veteran, Charles Barker (Swayze), who takes on rookie partner, Ellis Dove (Fimmel), to train in his hard-edged and psychologically clever style of agenting. The mischievous Barker hazes Dove as they go undercover on their first case to infiltrate a weapons smuggling ring. Barker brilliantly manipulates situations, constantly tests his new partner�s abilities and pushes him to delve deeper into the roles of the undercover characters he creates. Although Dove takes a liking to Barker, the new job takes its toll on him. The stress and danger of being an agent quickly makes him realize that he can no longer maintain normal relationships outside of work. Yet that�s not the worst of it. The rookie is confronted with a larger challenge: An FBI Internal Affairs team feels Barker may have gone rogue and they try to enlist Dove as a double-agent in the bureau's investigation of his mentor.