These last two days, Toni Collette has been in attendance at the CBS Summer TCA, promoting the upcoming series “Hostages”. Pictures from the shows’ panel and the CBS party have been added to the gallery. Additional coverage on the TCA can be found below the previews.

The following coverage has been posted by the Hollywood Reporter: Hostages, a drama led by Dylan McDermott and Toni Collette about surgeon Ellen Sanders who is forced to decide whether to kill the president or have her family killed, is hoping to take network television to a different level. The show is “a chance to do something new on network television,” executive producer Jeffrey Nachmanoff told reporters gathered Monday at the Television Critics Association press tour. The 15-episode order differentiates itself from the traditional series, which often sees 22 (or more) episodes, and follows the successes of similarly-modeled CBS’ Under the Dome and Fox’s The Following. But don’t call Hostages a miniseries. Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, as well as the other producers, have high hopes Hostages can sustain its story beyond a first season. “This is not a miniseries for us,” Bruckheimer said, adding that he hopes to get two seasons or more. The complete article can be read here.

“Hostages”, from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, is a high-octane suspense drama starring Emmy Award winner Toni Collette as a premiere surgeon thrust into a chilling political conspiracy when her family is taken hostage by Rogue FBI agent Duncan Carlisle. Dr. Ellen Sanders and her family are held captive in their home by Carlisle, a desperate man doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, who orders her to assassinate the President when she operates on him. His highly skilled accomplices include his brother-in-law Kramer, whose loyalty to Carlisle will be tested; quick-tempered and intimidating Archer, an ex-military man with a razor-sharp tongue; and the only woman involved, Sandrine, a mysterious last-minute replacement to the team.

With her family’s life in peril, Ellen faces an incomprehensible moral dilemma in order to save her overbearing husband Brian, her secretive daughter Morgan and her not-so-innocent son Jake. In this high-stakes standoff between Ellen and Carlisle, fraught with tremendous national and personal consequences, the choices between right and wrong become even more blurred.

CBS has launched the first pictures and a video preview for “Hostages”, which hails from Jeffrey Nachmanoff and Warner Bros. Television. The series is based on an Israeli format and follows a surgeon who is selected to operate on the President of the United States and finds herself drawn into a political conspiracy.

doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, who orders her to assassinate the President (James Naughton) when she operates on him. His highly skilled accomplices include his brother-in-law Kramer (Rhys Coiro), whose loyalty to Carlisle will be tested; quick-tempered and intimidating Archer (Billy Brown), an ex-military man with a razor-sharp tongue; and the only woman involved, Sandrine (Sandrine Holt), a mysterious last-minute replacement to the team. With her family’s life in peril, Ellen faces an incomprehensible moral dilemma in order to save her overbearing husband Brian (Tate Donovan), her secretive daughter Morgan (Quinn Shephard) and her not-so-innocent son Jake (Mateus Ward). In this high-stakes standoff between Ellen and Carlisle, fraught with tremendous national and personal consequences, the choices between right and wrong become even more blurred.

How very exciting to see Toni headlining a tv series once again. Besides above’s video preview and first production stills, HD captures from the featurette have been added to the gallery.

Looks like CBS has liked the pilot for “Hostages”. According to the Huffington Post, CBS has picked up two dramas, “Intelligence” starring Josh Holloway, and “Hostages” starring Toni Collette, the network announced today. A family is caught in the middle of a grand political conspiracy that will change their lives forever in “Hostages,” which hails from Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeffrey Nachmanoff. Collette stars as Ellen, a surgeon whose life is turned upside down after she’s chosen to operate on the President. With her family taken hostage, it’s up to Ellen to save them. Dylan McDermott and Tate Donovan also star. The concept is based on an unproduced Israeli format from Alon Aranya, Chayim Sharir and Rotem Shamir.

Deadline reports that two-time Tony award winner James Naughton has joined the cast of the upcoming CBS drama pilot HOSTAGES. The actor joins previously announced cast member Toni Collette on the project from Jerry Bruckheimer TV and Warner Bros TV. Written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, the drama follows “Ellen (Toni Collette), a successful surgeon who is selected to operate on the President of the United States (Naughton) and thrust into The Middle of a political conspiracy when her family is taken hostage.” The Hollywood Reporter, Rhys Coiro of “A Gifted Man” has joined the cast as well. Coiro will play Kramer, the brother-in-law of Ellen’s husband Duncan (McDermott). Kramer’s involvement in the political conspiracy will test his loyalties and add another layer of complication and drama for Duncan.

According to TV Line, Tate Donovan has joined CBS’ Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama pilot Hostages. Based on the Israeli format, the prospective series revolves around a family caught in the middle of a grand political conspiracy. Donovan joins Hostages as Brian, the husband of Toni Collette‘s matriarch Ellen. Described as a former Ivy League “golden boy,” Brian is now attempting to cover up the fact that his real estate career is floundering, forcing him to rely on his wife to keep the family afloat. Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story) is also set to co-star.