ABC Finds Its 'Night Stalker' -- Irish actor Stuart Townsend has been tapped to star in "Night Stalker," ABC's update of the cult 1970s series. Townsend, who starred in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and is equally well-known for his relationship with Oscar winner Charlize Theron, will play reporter Carl Kolchak in the pilot, the Hollywood trade papers report. Gabrielle Union ("Something the Lord Made") has also joined the cast.

The show revolves around a crime reporter who uncovers supernatural phenomena in the course of chasing stories but has a hard time convincing anyone of what he witnessed. Union will play a colleague of Kolchak's. "X-Files" veteran Frank Spotnitz is writing and executive producing "Night Stalker," which seems fitting. The original series, which starred Darren McGavin, had a big influence on "The X-Files," and Spotnitz himself worked as a journalist before becoming a screenwriter. In addition to "LXG," Townsend has also starred in "Queen of the Damned," "Trapped" and "Head in the Clouds," the last two opposite Theron. He was also famously replaced by Viggo Mortensen after a few days of filming "The Lord of the Rings."

Union's credits include "Bring It On" and "Deliver Us from Eva." She was also a regular on the CBS series "City of Angels" in 2000.