Chris Albrecht hadn't even cleaned out his desk before HBO was lining up a promising new mini-series. The network has secured the rights to the New York Times bestseller, "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer" from Walden Media, which had acquired the film rights before the publication of James Swanson's book.

Seems HBO will not use Walden's script designed to play up their once-attached star, Harrison Ford. Ford was initially cast as Colonel Everton Conger, a character who doesn't even appear until the book's final pages.

Naturally, totally improbable action scenes were created to give Ford his trademark determined scowl time, such as a scene in which Union soldiers, led by Ford, shoot at Booth's dinghy over the prow of their gunboat. Adding inaccuracies to an historical film is always a sure-fire way to lose a target audience.

To get an idea of how shocking Booth's crime was, imagine if George Clooney shot President Bush a few days after we'd won the war in Iraq. Yep, that's how bizarre Lincoln's assassination was.

With HBO's intervention, this detailed account of Lincoln's assassination, Booth's escape and the ensuing 12-day chase and media frenzy, could turn out as riveting as Swanson's book. Surely the network that gave us "Rome," "Elizabeth" and "Deadwood" can handle this historical epic.

The only question is who will play Booth?  Walden tried - unsuccessfully - to snag Johnny Depp to play John Wilkes Booth, the charismatic and well-known stage actor with smoldering eyes and countless mistresses. Depp declined the role and no wonder, given the abysmal script.

For my money, it has to be an unknown. Please HBO, don't get Leonardo DiCaprio or (I beg you!) Orlando Bloom. I think I've found your Booth...