Jordin Sparks joins Time After Time TV adaptation

Singer/actress Jordin Sparks has signed on to appear in the TV adaptation of Time After Time.

The new TV show will be based on writer Karl Alexander's 1979 sci-fi novel and its subsequent movie adaptation, which imagined 19th century British author H.G. Wells had actually built a time machine and traveled to the future.

Jordin will play New York stylist Jesse Givens, the roommate of museum curator Jane Walker, who catches Wells' attention upon his arrival in New York. Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince star Freddie Stroma will star as Wells, while Genesis Rodriguez will portray Walker.

A Clockwork Orange star Malcolm McDowell originally played Wells in the 1979 film, directed by Alexander's pal, Nicholas Meyer.

Kevin Williamson, the creator of hit shows Dawson's Creek and The Vampire Diaries, penned the script for the TV version of Time After Time and will serve as executive producer, with Chaos Theory's Marcos Siega directing.

Former American Idol champion Sparks has previously tested her acting skills with appearances on TV shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Zoe Ever After. She has also featured in the films The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete and Sparkle.

The new role will provide a welcome distraction for Jordin, who recently split from rapper Sage the Gemini. The couple had been dating since last April (15), but parted ways in February (16). Sage recently claimed their relationship had started as a publicity stunt in a leaked phone conversation with his ex-fiancee, but Jordin has yet to comment on the allegations.