text: The CW announced today that it is picking up five out of its eight drama pilot contenders. Early favorites Arrow and The Carrie Diaries got the nod along with First Cut, Cult and Beauty and the Beast.
  Arrow is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, also known as billionaire Oliver Queen. Stephen Amell (The Vampire Diaries, Private Practice) will star as the vigilante archer. The show, produced by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kresiberg and David Nutter will put a new spin on the character last seen on Smallville played by Justin Hartley. In this version, Oliver has returned to his life after being stranded on a desert island and works to hide his secret identity as he tries to right the wrongs of society. Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland and Susanna Thompson also star. [Previous Articles – CW Gearing Up for ‘Green Arrow’ Pilot; ‘Hung’ Star Stephen Amell Cast As The Green Arrow; ‘Arrow’ Adds ‘Gossip Girl’s’ Katie Cassidy, Willa Holland]
  The Carrie Diaries, based on the novel by Candace Bushnell, is the story of a teenaged Carrie Bradshaw, set in the 80s. Anna Sophia Robb will star as the younger version of the Sex and the City character as she struggled with adolescence and the recent death of her mother. Gossip Girl producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, along with Len Goldstein and Candace Bushnell will produce the show written by Amy B. Harris. Freema Agyeman, Chloe Bridges and Austin Butler also star. [Previous Articles – ‘The Carrie Diaries’ Up For Development At The CW; ‘Gossip Girl’s’ Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage Create Crime Drama Project for CW; AnnaSophia Robb Lands Leading Role In “The Carrie Diaries”]
  First Cut, the story of a medical intern who wants to leave her nerdy past behind but quickly realizes the hospital she works in is a lot like high school. Mamie Gummer (The Good Wife) stars as Emily Barnes and Justin Hartley (Smallville) as her med school crush, turned fellow intern, Will Rider. The series will be produced by Jennie Snyder Urman, Dan Jinks and Bharat Nalluri. Michael Rady, Jack Coleman, Kelly J. McCreary and Aja Naomi King round out the cast. [Previous Articles – CW Orders Pilot For Medical Dramedy ‘First Cut’; Justin Hartley Books CW’s ‘First Cut’; The CW’s ‘First Cut’ Taps Mamie Gummer for Lead]
  Cult stars Matt Davis (The Vampire Diaries) as Jeff Sefton, a journalist, who discovers the dark underworld of a TV show called ‘Cult’ and its rabid fans after his brother mysteriously disappears. Jessica Lucas (Melrose Place) costars as a research assistant, Skye Yarrow, who is the only person to take Jeff’s claims seriously. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage serve as producers on this show as well along with Rockne S. O’Bannon, Len Goldstein and Jason Ensler. O’Bannon wrote the pilot which was directed by Jason Ensler. Robert Knepper and Alona Tal also star. [Previous Articles – ‘Gossip Girl’s’ Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage Create Crime Drama Project for CW]
  Beauty and the Beast stars Kristin Kreuk (Smallville) as homicide Detective Catherine Chandler and Jay Ryan (Terra Nova) as Vincent Koslow, the beast to her beauty in this modern day retelling of the fairy tale. The series, written by Sherri Cooper and Jennifer Levin is loosely based on the 1980s series of the same name but this one has a procedural twist with Beauty as a detective and the Beast as a doctor who has been hiding from the world for over 10 years. Paul J. Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow and Bill Haber will serve as executive producers. [Previous Article – ‘Smallville’ Alum Kristin Kreuk Joins ‘Beauty & the Beast’]