Showtime casts Anna Friel in 'The Vatican'

Pushing Daisies star Anna Friel will play the younger sister of a cardinal in The Vatican, a drama pilot in the works at Showtime that’s described as a provocative contemporary genre thriller about spirituality, power and politics – set against the modern-day political machinations within the Catholic church.

Friel will play opposite Kyle Chandler, who’s set to depict Cardinal Duffy. Friel’s Kayla is a sexually active, hard-partying New Yorker who is openly rebellious against all norms and institutions, including the church.

The Vatican will begin production this season. Other cast members include Matthew Goode (A Single Man) as Papal Secretary Bernd Koch, and Sebastian Koch (A Good Day to Die Hard) as Cardinal Marco Malerba. Paul Attanasio (House M.D.) wrote the hour-long pilot that will be directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus).