Tim Roth is making his television series starring debut in Lie to Me, a one-hour series from Imagine and 20th Century Fox TV that has a 13-episode commitment, planning to bow early next year.

According to Variety, Roth will play Dr. Cal Lightman, a scientist who pioneered the field of deception detection. The doc is a human lie detector, skilled at reading the human face, body and voice to uncover the truth in criminal and private investigations. The fact that the character can apply the same skills to his personal life complicates his relationships. The science in the show is genuine, based on the work of Dr. Paul Ekman.

Robert Schwentke is directing the pilot, which will shoot in August.