Showtime orders more pilots

US cable network Showtime is bulking up its slate of original productions with the launch of two pilots from high profile A-listers.

It has ordered a pilot for the Tim Robbins-penned pharmaceutical drama Possible Side Effects and has appointed Craig Gillespie to direct the pilot for The United States of Tara, the Steven Spielberg created drama, which is being written by Juno-creator Diablo Cody.

Possible Side Effects is black comedy that follows a family that runs a pharmaceutical drug company.

The United States of Tara stars Toni Collette (Muriel’s Wedding) as a woman with multiple personality disorder as she raised two teenage kids. It is being produced by Dreamworks Television and is expected to be produced later this spring.

The pilots, which follow the success, both domestically and internationally of shows including Dexter and Weeds, were commissioned by Robert Greenblatt, president of entertainment at Showtime.

CBS-Paramount International Television is expected to take international distribution rights to any full orders produced.