David Tennant to Star in FOX's 'Broadchurch' Remake

Credit: ITV

Well, this should make for a smoother transition to American shores.

Entertainment Weekly reports that Broadchurch star David Tennant will be headlining FOX's American remake of the hit U.K. mystery drama. The former Doctor Who star will reprise his role as Detective Inspector Alec Hardy in the series, scheduled for the 2014-15 season. As in the U.K. original, Tennant will play a detective (an American, this time) investigating the shocking murder of a young boy in a small town...which (and I'm only guessing here) will be called Broadchurch.

Original series creator Chris Chibnall will script the premiere episode for executive producers/showrunners Dan Futterman (Capote) and Anya Epstein (In Treatment).

Production on the series is scheduled to begin in January, which could create problems with the upcoming second season of the U.K. original, as neither Tennant nor co-star Olivia Colman have been confirmed to return for series two as of yet.

For his part, Chibnall is hoping to match the U.K. original with this latest remake, telling Entertainment Weekly that FOX is providing him the opportunity “to make something that is hopefully as good if not better than the British version.”

Here's hoping.