According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emmy Rossum will star opposite William H. Macy in John Wells' pilot Shameless for Showtime.

Allison Janney has also signed on for a key recurring role. Lastly, Justin Chatwin has been cast in this pilot from Warner Bros. TV and John Wells Prods.

The show is based on the long-running British series by top U.K. TV writer Paul Abbott. It revolves around the Gallaghers, they are a working-class Chicago clan dealing with the recession. The mother is absent, and the alcoholic parent (Macy) always ends up passed out on the living room floor. Eventually, their 18-year-old daughter Fiona (Rossum) takes on the role of keeping her five younger brothers and sisters on the right track.

Janney will play a love interest for Macy. Chatwin is going to be Steve, a car thief who falls for Fiona.

Mark Mylod will be directing the pilot from a screenplay by Abbott and Wells.