Jay Firestone’s Prodigy Pictures has signed up Hollywood stalwart Stuart Townsend to star in its thriller series XIII, set to shoot in Toronto from this fall for Showcase.

The Irish-born film and TV actor (Robot Chicken, Will & Grace) will play a former secret agent struggling to discover his true identity and a governmental conspiracy surrounding him after losing memory of his past.

The series is named for the Roman numeral tattooed on the main character’s neck.

Prodigy is co-producing XIII, which is set in France, with French partner Cipango.

Canal Plus has already picked up the hour-long drama for the French TV market.

Firestone is executive producing XIII along with Cipango’s Edouard De Vesinne and Thomas Anargyros. Gil Grant will show run and executive produce the series.

Wanda Chaffey is producing the Canadian-French TV series, which has yet to line up a U.S. broadcaster.