UPDATE: After picking up its hottest comedy pilot, Marry Me, NBC also ordered to series its drama pilot frontrunner, Allegiance (form. Coercion). It was adapted from Israeli series The Gordin Cell by writer George Nolfi, who also directed the pilot. I hear John Zinman and Patrick Massett are in talks to join as showrunners. Allegiance centers on Alex OConnor, a young idealistic CIA analyst specializing in Russian affairs, who learns a shocking secret that his parents, Mark (Scott Cohen) and Katya (Hope Davis) are covert Russian spies deactivated decades ago. Today the Kremlin has re-enlisted them into service as they plan a terrorist operation inside the U.S. that will bring America to its knees. The cast also includes Margarita Levieva, Gavin Stenhouse, Morgan Spector, Annie Ilonzeh, Alexandra Peters and Kenneth Choi. Nolfi serves as executive producer with Avi Nir, Ron Leshem, Amit Cohen, Yona Wisenthal and Giyora Yahalom for Universal Television, Keshet Media Group, which is behind the original series; along with Israeli satcaster YES, which airs it.
