The CBS series, which follows a politically incorrect New York City taxi driver, is based on a French Canadian comedy and had first been developed at HBO with Gandolfini possibly playing the lead role. When CBS bought the project, Gandolfini was set to executive produce. The purchase was made two weeks before the actor's death.
The pilot was originally ordered for January 2014 but was then delayed.
Leguizamo's stage credits include Ghetto Klown, American Buffalo, Sexaholix and Freak. The Golden Globe winner's screen credits include "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet," "Moulin Rouge!" and "The Lincoln Lawyer."
Along with the original series’ creator/star Patrick Huard, Dennis Erdman and Clark Peterson, François Flamand and Gandolfini’s former managers, Nancy Sanders and Mark Armstrong, will executive produce the series. Leguizamo will co-executive produce alongside his managers, Jeff Golenberg and Sam Maydew.
Gandolfini will be given a posthumous credit as executive producer on the pilot and, if made, first season of "Taxi-22."
