While HBO's new horse racing-themed TV series 'Luck' is set to air in 2012, the pilot will premiere in one month's time

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According to Variety, the series from Hollywood heavyweights writer David Milch and director Michael Mann is set to air on Sunday, December 11 immediately following the season Two finale of the award-winning series 'Boardwalk Empire'. The network is banking on big rating for the finale of Boardwalk Empire and will use the timeslot to give viewers a taste of Luck.

"Most of the crew and I worked together on numerous films before Luck, going back 10 or 15 years," Mann stated during a pre-production feature. "We're motivated by the challenge of innovation. With horse racing, it is not to observe racing, but to place the audience within the experience."

'Luck' stars Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, , John Ortiz and Dennis Farina (see this month's Trot for his harness racing-themed Separated At Birth) and John Ortiz as well as retired jockey Gary Stevens and active rider Chantal Sutherland.

Milch, who wrote the pilot, is an avid racing fan and has owned several horses over his career.