LOS ANGELES - Oscar winner Martin Landau will star in an untitled drama for ABC, while “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum Tori Spelling will play a struggling writer in the tentatively titled female buddy comedy “Way Downtown” for the WB.

In veteran producer Larry Gelbart's ABC project, Landau will play a key adviser to a media family. His supporting cast is expected to be Hollywood heavyweights. In other casting news:

Russell Wong (“Romeo Must Die”) will play the lead in the WB pilot, “The Black Sash.” Wong's character returns to his family in San Francisco after being released from jail in China, having been wrongfully accused of drug trafficking. R&B singer Ray J ("Moesha") also stars.

Kelly Rutherford ("Melrose Place") stars in the Fox drama pilot "Eastwick," based on the feature "The Witches of Eastwick." The witches’ sons will be played by Chris Evans ("Not Another Teen Movie" ) and Jonathan Bennett ("All My Children").

Mark Valley ("Pasadena") will play the lead role of Eddie in the Fox comedy-drama "Keen Eddie." The pilot centers on an American cop who travels to London and ends up staying.

Newcomer Alexa Davalos will play the U.S. vice president's daughter, Eliza Randolph, in Fox's untitled Secret Service pilot. The character is a Georgetown law student followed heavily by the Secret Service due to her father’s position.