Monday June 25 1:45 AM ET

''Mummy Returns'' star Fehr unwraps NBC role

By Michael Schneider

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Coming off his turn as Ardeth Bay in the blockbuster sequel ``The Mummy Returns,'' Oded Fehr has wrapped up a deal to join the cast of new NBC drama ``UC: Undercover.''

Fehr will join the second episode of ``UC'' as Donovan, a by-the-books FBI (news - web sites) agent who segues from running the bureau's hostage rescue team to heading up the show's unconventional undercover unit.

Given the success of ``The Mummy Returns,'' series creator Shane Salerno called Fehr's hire ``a pretty cool thing.

``This doesn't happen, landing a guy off a $200 million movie,'' Salerno said. ``It was a very long seduction process.''

Salerno called Fehr ``a fresh face for TV ... He's an intense actor with incredible weight and vulnerability. And he's got the rarest of qualities: Women want to be with him and men want to be his best friend.''

Fehr fills the hole left by the departure of original star Grant Show, who starred as the team leader in ``UC's'' pilot. Show's character will now be eliminated after the first episode.

Fehr's TV credits include the miniseries ``Cleopatra'' and ``Arabian Nights.'' He was also featured in ``The Mummy'' and ``Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.''

It's still unclear whether NBC will air ``UC'' as a two-hour premiere -- in which case Fehr would be introduced in the second hour.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS