USA NETWORK ANNOUNCES PILOT PICK-UP FOR "SHOOTER," RYAN PHILLIPPE IS SET TO STAR

From Executive Producers Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and John Hlavin, the Drama is a Co-Production with Paramount Television and Universal Cable Productions

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - August 6, 2015 - USA Network announced a pilot pick-up for the hour-long scripted drama SHOOTER and has locked in Ryan Phillippe ("Secrets and Lies") to star. SHOOTER is based on the best-selling Bob Lee Swagger novel by Stephen Hunter, Point of Impact, and the 2007 Paramount film starring Mark Wahlberg. The co-production with Paramount Television and Universal Cable Productions comes from executive producers Wahlberg ("Boardwalk Empire," "Entourage") of Closest to the Hole Productions; Stephen Levinson ("Boardwalk Empire," "Ballers") of Leverage Entertainment; and Lorenzo di Bonaventura ("Transformers," "The Real O'Neals"). John Hlavin ("The Shield") wrote the pilot and will also executive produce. Simon Cellan Jones ("Ballers") is set to direct the pilot.

Phillippe is a producer on the project and will star as Bob Lee Swagger, an off-the-grid former Marine sniper who is coaxed into action to thwart the killing of the President. Ultimately double-crossed and framed for the attempt, he must call upon all the skills he acquired as a decorated Marine sharpshooter to avoid capture while hunting down and exposing the traitors who set him up.

SHOOTER is an action series whose central elements are the ingenuity and courage of a U.S. veteran and the military training and background that sustain him as he fights a sophisticated conspiracy.

Phillippe most recently appeared on television in "Secrets and Lies" where he starred opposite Juliette Lewis. Previously, he was seen on "Damages" playing Channing McClaren in the acclaimed drama's final season. Most recently, Phillippe co-wrote, produced and starred in "Catch Hell," which marks his directorial debut. The story follows an actor abducted while on location and is inspired by true events. Recent film credits include his role opposite Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei in "The Lincoln Lawyer," Steven Silver's "The Bang Bang Club," Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Breach" starring opposite Chris Cooper.

Since the film, "White Squall" with director Ridley Scott, Phillippe has worked with exceptional actors and award winning directors. Additional film credits include Robert Altman's Oscar nominated film "Godsford Park," "Igby Goes Down," "Antitrust" co-starring Tim Robbins, "Company Man" with Sigourney Weaver, "The Way of the Gun," "The I Inside," and the Academy Award winning film "Crash" directed by Paul Haggis.

Phillippe can also be seen in, Paramount's war-drama, "Stop-Loss," alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum, "MacGruber" with Will Forte and Kristen Wiig and box office smash hits; "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Cruel Intentions" and "54" with Mike Myers. Phillippe is repped by WME and MGMT. Entertainment, and David Weber at Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.

Hlavin is repped by UTA, Tom Lasally at 3 Arts and attorney Karl Austen.

In addition to SHOOTER, USA Network recently announced pilot pick-ups for BROOKLYN ANIMAL CONTROL, a co-production between Universal Cable Productions and IDW Entertainment, the pilot is written and executive produced by JT Petty ("Splinter Cell"); and POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK, a co-production between Legendary Television and Universal Cable Productions, the project is from executive producer Jim Danger Gray ("Orange is the New Black") and consulting producer Miguel Sapochnik ("Game of Thrones"). Previously announced pick-ups also include the Universal Cable Production dramas FALLING WATER from executive producers Gale Anne Hurd ("The Walking Dead") of Valhalla Entertainment, Blake Masters ("2 Guns") and the late Emmy Award-winner Henry Bromell ("Homeland"), and PARADISE PICTURES from executive producer Aaron Korsh (SUITS) and Rick Muirragui (SUITS).

About USA Network:

USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals in more than 102 million U.S. homes. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Watch USA Network anywhere: On Demand, online or across mobile and connected TVs

About Paramount Television:

Paramount Television develops and finances a wide range of creative television programming across all media platforms. Paramount Television is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a division of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a global content company with premier television, film and digital entertainment brands.

About Universal Cable Productions:

Universal Cable Productions (UCP) creates innovative and critically acclaimed original scripted and digital content across media platforms for domestic and international distribution. UCP's content library spans classics such as Emmy-award winning, "Monk," and critic and fan favorites "Psych," "Battlestar Galactica," and "Warehouse 13." In the U.S., UCP's programming can be seen across various networks, including: "Colony" (Fall 2015), "Dig," "Mr. Robot," "Playing House," "Royal Pains," "Satisfaction" and "Suits" on USA Network; "12 Monkeys," "Childhood's End" (2016), "Defiance," "Dominion," "Hunters" (2016), "Killjoys," and "Magicians" (2016) on Syfy; "Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce" on Bravo; "The Royals," on E!; "Difficult People" on Hulu; "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome" on Machinima Prime/YouTube, Syfy and DVD/Blu-Ray; and "Side Effects" on Awesomeness TV/YouTube. Universal Cable Productions is a part of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Follow us @UCPisTV.