"The Wire" creators David Simon and Ed Burns reteam on the new seven-part miniseries, which will be directed by Susanna White and Simon Cellan Jones. Simon, Burns and Evan Wright penned the series based on the latter writer's book.

Sands will be among the principals in an ensemble cast that also features Alexander Skarsgard, James Ransone, Jon Huertas and Lee Tergesen. Company Pictures produces the work filmed in South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia and scheduled for a 2008 debut on the network.

"Generation Kill" will chronicle "the first month of the American-led 2003 Iraq invasion through the eyes of a young Marine whose unit was part of the first wave of the U.S. military assault on Baghdad," according to the trade mag.

Also set to appear are David Barrera, Josh Barrett, Wilson Bethel, Nabil Elouahabi, Neal Jones, Chance Kelly, Michael Kelly, Eric Ladin, Jonah Lotan, Billy Lush, Kellan Lutz, J. Salome Martinez Jr., Marc Menchaca, Eric Nenninger, Pawel Szajda, Rey Valentin, Brian Patrick Wade and Owain Yeoman. Real-life former Marine and Iraq War veteran Rudy Reyes will play himself in the cast.

Sands is currently Tony-nominated for his Broadway debut in the revival of R. C. Sherriff's Journey's End. He has been seen in the films "Flags of Our Fathers," "Shall We Dance," "Chasing Liberty," "Die, Mommie, Die!" and "Pretty Persuasion" as well as television's "Six Feet Under," "Hope & Faith" and "Nip/Tuck."