Actor Sacked By ABC For Religious Beliefs Finds Home On Starz As 'Vigilante Priest'

http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/actor-sacked-by-abc-for-his-religious-reasons-finds-new-home-on-starz-as-vigilante-priest/

I wrote about actor Neal McDonough's trouble with ABC back in March and received one of the biggest responses ever to a story because he was standing up for his religious beliefs. You may recall the post (No Sex Please, I'm Neal McDonough): how he was suddenly replaced 3 days into the filming on the ABC series Scoundrels in a move officially explained as a casting change. But, in fact, McDonough was sacked because of his refusal to do some heated love scenes because he's a family man and a Catholic, and he's always made it clear that he won't do sex scenes. And ABC knew that. Well, a lot of people who applauded Neal wanted to know what he'll be doing next. Of course, he's co-starring in Marvel's Captain America movie currently shooting in London. But now I hear McDonough has co-created and will executive produce and star in VIGILANTE PRIEST, a one hour drama for Starz which is fast-tracking the project.

I hear the series was his own idea, and he will co-create it with Law & Order vet Walon Green who will also exec produce and write. John Avnet also will be executive producing and directing the pilot. McDonough will take on the title role: an ex-cop turned priest who is cleaning up the streets of Los Angeles "one sinner at a time". I continue to applaud the Band Of Brothers and Desperate Housewives standout for sticking to his principles even if it cost him jobs.