Hugh Jackman Comes to CBS

It’s not his own series, but “X-Men� star Hugh Jackman has come a long way from the role of Wolverine making him a known actor, and now he’s coming to television. The new CBS series “Viva Laughlin� will not only be executive produced by Jackman but will feature him in a recurring guest role, according to the official page on the network’s website.

The series is based on the hit British series “Viva Blackpool� of BBC, but “Laughlin� hails itself as “part thriller, part drama, part musical� as it follows the life of Ripley Holden who struggles with opening a casino in Laughlin, Nevada (hence the obvious play on the song “Viva Las Vegas�) and supporting his family.

The show stars Lloyd Owen as Ripley Holden. Owen appeared as Henry Jones Sr. on “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles� in the early ‘90s. Hugh Jackman has second billing on the official site as Nicky Fontana. Madchen Amick (“ER,� “Joey,� and “Freddy�) plays Natalie Holden. Other casting includes Eric Winter whose best known for playing Rex Brady on “Days of Our Lives� (he’s also appearing in “Harold & Kumar 2�), D.B. Woodside (“Buffy� and his recent role on “24� as Wayne Palmer), and Melanie Griffith listed as Bunny Baxter.

“Viva Laughlin� premieres Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific with a special preview on Oct. 18 at 10 p.m.