With actors Jon Bernthal, Neal McDonough, and Milo Ventimiglia locked in as the main stars for TNT's pilot L.A. Noir, the casting has shifted towards other roles. British actor Simon Pegg is in talks for a "top-secret" part as a guest star in Frank Darabont's pilot.

The story centers on Jon Teague (Jon Bernthal), an L.A.P.D. cop in the 1940s and 1950s who is on the front lines of his department's pursuit of gangster Mickey Cohen. Milo Ventimiglia is portraying Ned Stax, an attorney who served in World War II with Teague, but is now being groomed as a fixer for the Cohen mob. Neal McDonough, who can currently be seen on FX's Justified, is playing L.A.P.D. chief William Parker. The role of Mickey Cohen has not been cast yet.

It isn't known if Simon Pegg's top-secret character will only appear in the pilot, or if they plan to set up a return, should the show be ordered to series by TNT. The Walking Dead creator Frank Darabont wrote the script and will direct the pilot episode. Michael De Luca, Elliot Webb, and Alissa Phillips serve as executive producers alongside Frank Darabont.