Chris Cooper tapped for 'Klondike,' Discovery's first scripted mini-series

Discovery Channel is jumping into the increasingly popular basic cable scripted programming arena, with the mini-series "Klondike" and they've set Oscar-winning actor Chris Cooper to co-star.

Based on Charlotte Gray's novel "Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich in the Klondike," the mini will follow six strangers in a remote small town battling the environment and a collection of dangers characters as they search for gold in the 1890s.

Paul Scheuring ("Prison Break") is the primary writer and executive producers include Ridley Scott.

Cooper -- who won an Oscar for "Adaptation." and will soon be seen in "August: Osage County" opposite Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts -- will take on the role of Father Judge.

If the "Klondike" concept gives off a faint "Hatfields & McCoys" vibe, it's probably completely intentional. History's Emmy-winning miniseries set ratings records when it premiered last summer.

"Klondike" doesn't have an air date yet, but it's scheduled to begin production in March.