Empire actress and former General Hospital alum Annie IIonzeh has been cast as the lead in the ABC pilot, Staties. According to Deadline, The drama will be written and executive produced by Matt Partney and Corey Evett. It centers on Eliza Cortez (IIonzeh), the daughter of a criminal, Eliza has got a chip on her shoulder and a lot to prove. Initially with the NYPD in Brooklyn, she’s bounced off the force after a one-woman assault on a meth lab leaves a city block in rubble. After getting a job with the Oregon State Police Force — the only squad that would hire her — Eliza is obliged to adjust to an infinitely more easygoing and eccentric team of co-workers.
Michael Seitzman & Christina Davis executive produce via their Maniac Productions alongside Partney, Evett and Bowman.
Ilonze, other series credits also include Person of Interest, Graceland and the short-lived ABC reboot series Charlie’s Angels, is with Etcetera and Company and attorney Michael Auerbach.
Source: Deadline