Ving Rhames, whose starring role in a remake of Kojak was cut short when the USA Network failed to renew the series, has signed on to play the key character of McCaffrey in the new Aquaman TV series from the producers of Smallville.  McCaffrey is a lighthouse keeper, who functions as a mentor for A.C. Curry (aka Aquaman). Rhames has some serious character acting credentials including a recurring role in all three Mission Impossible films as well as memorable parts in Pulp Fiction, Con Air, and Dawn of the Dead. In addition to Rhames, Denise Quinones has agreed to portray a Navy fighter pilot and love interest for Aquaman.

With filming of the series set to begin in March and the cast rounding into shape, producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have replaced Will Toale, the relatively unknown actor originally chosen to be the modern incarnation of the 'Lost King of Atalantis' (see 'The WB Lands Its Aquaman'), with soap opera star Justin Hartley (Passions).