In the midst of the success of their hit series Mr. Robot, which has been confirmed for third season, USA Network has begun development on a new con artist drama series starring Star Trek‘s John Cho, which promises to cork style and suspense in a bottle.
In 1999, Cho delivered an unforgettable performance in American Pie as MILF Guy #2, solidifying the phrase as a staple of inappropriate terms. 2004 saw the birth of the Harold and Kumar trilogy, where Cho and his co-star Kal Penn would embark on some of the most entertaining treks, ranging from a trip to White Castle to an escape from Guantanamo Bay. From there, Cho took on the iconic role of Hikaru Sulu of the USS Enterprise, furthering his fame to global levels. According to Variety, Cho’s newfound star power has earned him the leading role in his own series, Connoisseur, which will delve into the difficulties of trying to dupe the world’s wealthiest people and coming out unscathed.
Cho will be playing the role of Clay Parker, the premiere con-artist in the industry, as he uses charm and persuasion to sell fake million dollar wine to the rich and powerful. His line of work soon forces him into a dangerous deal with a deadly organized crime syndicate, which in turn places him on the FBI’s radar, and resurfaces his troubled past with his broken and estranged family that he left behind in Korea.
The hour long drama comes from writer Gary Lundy, and former producer of USA’s Burn Notice, Ben Watkins. Cho, Watkins, and Lundy will also serve as executive producers for the series, with Lundy serving as the main writer. Watkins will produce the series through his Blue Monday Production company, along with his producing partner Eli Dansky, who will also serve as a producer for the series. This new venture also marks Cho’s first role as a producer.
USA has bought the script for the first season of Connoisseur from Lundy, but there is no word on when production for the series will begin or when Connoisseur will hit the small screen.