Mandy Patinkin Joins Showtime's Homeland

Mandy Patinkin will return to TV in Showtime's new drama pilot, Homeland, the network announced Wednesday.
The erstwhile Inigo Montoya and former Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds star will join Claire Danes on the project. Based on Gideon Raff's Israeli series Hatufim (Prisoners of War), Homeland will revolve around U.S. Marine Sergeant Scott Brody, who is found 10 years after going missing during the invasion of Baghdad.

Claire Danes eyeing lead role in Showtime's Homeland

Danes will play Carrie Anderson, a driven CIA case officer who handles threats to homeland security from the Middle East. Patinkin — who won an Emmy for his work on Chicago Hope and also starred on Showtime's Dead Like Me — will play Carrie's boss and mentor, Saul, a veteran CIA division chief.

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The role is Patinkin's first regular series gig since his controversial exit from Criminal Minds three years ago. After publicly stating that he was bothered by the violence on the show, Patinkin did not show up for the Season 3 premiere table read and later issued a statement, saying he was leaving the CBS procedural for "creative reasons." He shot two episodes to wrap up his character and was replaced by Joe Mantegna.Homeland, which comes from 24 executive producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, starts production next month.