Jay Firestone’s latest project has lined up foreign and Canadian star wattage for his XIII drama for Showcase.

As shooting in Toronto on XIII gets under way, Firestone’s Prodigy Pictures has hired Aisha Tyler to play a CIA agent, French actress Virginie Ledoyen to play a mercenary, and Italian thesp Caterina Murino as an ally and love interest for the main secret agent character, XIII, played by Irish-born actor Stuart Townsend.

Canadian actors also figure in the mix, with Greg Byrk to play a national security officer, Wally Sheridan as a former U.S. president and Stephen McHattie as president Carrington.

XIII is co-produced by Firestone’s Prodigy Pictures and French partner Cipango, the TV division of Luc Besson’s Europacorp.

Firestone, Edouard De Vésinne and Thomas Anargyros are executive producing.

Gil Grant (NCIS: Los Angeles) wrote the pilot and is show-running XIII, as well as executive producing.

Duane Clark will direct three of the 13 episodes to be shot as part of the first season.

Other directors include Xavier Palud and Philippe Haim. Wanda Chaffey will produce the series.
XIII is based on Jean Van Hamme’s popular graphic novel of the same name.