In a story from The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Shannon will be co-starring in the Martin Scorsese HBO pilot Boardwalk Empire.

Shannon will play the role of Van Alden. He is an agent with the Treasury Department whose mission is to contain bootlegging in the Prohibition era.

The show follows Nelson Johnson's book about the early 20th century origins of Atlantic City, N.J.. The story follows Nucky Johnson (Steve Buscemi), who runs a moonshine ring right when Prohibition starts. It also looks at Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), a vet from World War I and an earner for Nucky.

The screenplay will be written by Terrence Winter and directed by Scorsese.