Chuck alum Ryan McPartlin will co-star opposite Ashley Judd in NBC’s drama pilot Salvation. In the project, written by Elizabeth Heldens and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, mega-church Pastor Daniel Strickland suddenly dies, and his loyal wife, Jennifer Strickland (Judd), must rally to keep their family together and save the church. McPartlin, repped by Gersh and Evolution, will play Congressman Todd Bishop, an ambitious man whose political life keeps him from home, making him a bit of an absent husband and father. His romantic comedy feature The Right Kind Of Wrong opens next week.

Related: 2014 NBC Pilots

Bryshere Y. Gray aka rapper Yazz The Greatest has been cast in Fox’s hip-hop industry drama pilot Empire, from Lee Daniels, Danny Strong and Brian Grazer. The booking comes on the heels of the actor-musician signing with Paradigm. Empire centers on Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), a charismatic, savvy music superstar who is about to take his company, Empire Entertainment, public. Gray, managed by Charles Alston, is Lucious’ youngest son, and by far his favorite. He has the swagger of a rising superstar and just might be the front-runner to head Empire Entertainment. Bryshere hails from Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School, and, with his career as an actor and rapper, follows in the footsteps of famous Overbrook alum Will Smith.

Related: 2014 Fox Pilots