On the strength of the pilot, Fox has picked up comic book drama “Human Target”, starring Mark Valley (“Fringe”) and co-starring Jackie Earle Haley (“Watchmen”) and Chi McBride (“Pushing Daisies”).

Based on the Vertigo/DC Comics title, the show centers on the Human Target, a freelance bodyguard named Christopher Chance. He offers a unique service, taking on the identity of his clients to draw attention towards him, thus becoming a literal human target. The pilot was written by Jon Steinberg and directed by Simon West, and McG helped produce it.

The Human Target first appeared in 1972 as a DC Comics back-up feature character before DC’s more “mature” and cult offshoot Vertigo featured the character in a mini-series of his own in 1999, and then later on an ongoing title from 2003 to 2005.

This won’t be Christopher Chance’s first portrayal on TV though. In 1990 a short-lived live-action adaptation of the character starring Rick Springfield debuted and briefly aired in 1992, following the same premise as the comic book. A tie-in to the series was released in 1990, “The Human Target Special #1”.

The show will be joining Fox’s 2009/2010 schedule.

Stay tuned to Shockya.com for more “Human Target” and other Fox news.

By Costa Koutsoutis (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)