We first told you about proposed series The Last Ship over a year ago, and updated with the information last July that TNT had ordered a pilot of the show. Now we bring you the happy news that not only has the show been picked up to series by TNT, but we have a trailer for it, and Adam Baldwin (Chuck, Firefly) is a co-star. The only bad news? It won’t premiere until summer 2014.

Trailer: The Last Ship
[youtube]http://youtu.be/2Vng00SYRL0[/youtube]

TNT CLEARS “THE LAST SHIP” FOR LAUNCH

Eric Dane Stars in Newly Greenlit Series from Executive Producer Michael Bay

TNT has greenlit the action-packed drama series The Last Ship, starring Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) and executive-produced by blockbuster filmmaker Michael Bay (Transformers). Based on William Brinkley’s popular novel, The Last Ship comes to TNT from Bay’s Platinum Dunes and its partners, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, whose credits include upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Bay, Fuller and Form serve as executive producers, along with showrunner Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace) and Steven Kane (The Closer). Steinberg and Kane wrote the series pilot, which was directed by Jonathan Mostow (U-571).

TNT has ordered 10 episodes of The Last Ship, with plans to launch the series in 2014. The story opens with a global catastrophe that nearly decimates the world’s population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James avoids falling victim to the devastating tragedy. But now the crew and its captain must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors.

Dane stars as Captain Tom Chandler, a career Navy man who is authoritative and decisive, but also fair and courageous. A born leader and a loving father and husband, Chandler is respected and loved by the men and women under his command. The Last Ship also stars Rhona Mitra (Strike Back) as Rachel Scott, a strong-willed, intelligent and fearless paleomicrobiologist assigned to the Nathan James to investigate the cause of billions of deaths worldwide. Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) is Slattery, the ship’s second-in-command who worries deeply about his family and occasionally clashes with Dane’s Captain Chandler over the best course of action. And Tracy Middendorf (Boardwalk Empire, Mission: Impossible III) plays Darien Chandler, the captain’s wife.

“The Last Ship has all the elements of a big Hollywood blockbuster, from its epic storytelling to its top-notch cast headed by the perfect leading man, Eric Dane,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “Michael Bay and his fellow executive producers have shaped William Brinkley’s story and characters into an exceptional drama full of action, suspense, tragedy and triumph. TNT is smart, fun television that takes you on a great ride.”

Yes this is very similar to the upcoming Ronald D. Moore Syfy series Helix, but I’m presuming that they can exist and succeed side by side, much like Grimm and Once Upon a Time. We shall see…

The Last Ship, starring Eric Dane, Rhona Mitra, Adam Baldwin, and Tracy Middendorf, premieres summer 2014 on TNT.