Sopranos star Michael Imperioli will take Dean Andrews' role of politically incorrect and tough cop Ray Carling in the American version of Life on Mars.

Imperioli is the latest addition to the much-changed cast, following the departure of David E. Kelley from the project. New producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg have moved the location from the originally-planned Los Angeles to New York City, although the key plot elements regarding Sam Tyler's return to the 1970s remains intact.

Despite the changes, the US Life on Mars is still expected to debut this autumn on Thursday nights on the ABC network.