Sean Astin to co-star in "Surgeon General"

From Deadline:

The Lord Of The Rings' Sean Astin has joined Jason Issacs [Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter] and Kathryn Morris [Lilly Rush in Cold Case] in CBS’ drama pilot Surgeon General. Written by Samuel Baum and produced by CBS TV Studios, the project centers on Dr. John Sherman (Isaacs), the most powerful doctor in the nation, the Surgeon General, who has 315 million patients. Astin, repped by Innovative, LuberRoklin and Dave Feldman, will play Dr. Fischer, a psychiatrist, a member of Dr. Sherman’s team, overseeing the nation’s mental health. He will next be seen in The Call.

Futon Critic reports Sean will "play Alan Fischer, a short, neurotic psychiatrist with a gentle soul."

From IMDB:

[The story] centers on Dr. John Sherman the most powerful doctor in the nation, the Surgeon General, who has 315 million patients. As America's doctor, Sherman and his team battle the powerful forces of politics and business, fighting to protect the health of everyday Americans. 

The director will be Rod Lurie, who Sean worked with on the 1999 political thriller "Deterrence." The pilot is being filmed in Atlanta and casting calls [here and here] have gone out in the city.