Dexter badass Jennifer Carpenter will stick to law enforcement and play an FBI agent in ABC's Sea of Fire remake from Scandal's Jenna Bans .

Jennifer Carpenter is returning to cable.

The Dexter alum has landed the leading role in USA Network's Middle East drama Stanistan, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The drama, picked up to pilot in May, follows the staff at the American compound in the Middle Eastern country of Stanistan, where State Department workers, covert CIA officers and journalists strike a delicate balance of danger and levity.

The drama hails from Universal Cable Productions. Andy Parker is writing the pilot and will serve as supervising producer. Richard Scarth, Mary Louise Vitelli and Maureen Ryan (Project Nim) co-executive produce. Steve Scheffer is on board as an EP.

Carpenter will topline the drama as public affairs officer Marcie Post. The character is described as hyper-alert and always five steps ahead of the people around her. Stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Stanistan for the past four months, Marcie is the press officer for the State Department, and paid to put the most positive spin on news from the region.

The role marks Carpenter's return to cable after she starred in ABC's drama pilot Sea of Fire, which was passed over in May. The actress rose to fame on Showtime's Dexter, where she played Detective Debra Morgan for eight seasons. Dexter ended its run a year ago. Repped by WME, Untitled and Jackoway Tyerman, Carpenter's credits include Quarantine and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com

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