New Ryan Phillippe sniper series Shooter postponed in 'respect' to Dallas shooting victims

The drama follows an exiled marksman who returns to work amid a plot to kill the president

Ryan Phillippe stars as former military sniper Bob Lee Swagger in Shooter

A new US TV series starring Ryan Phillippe as a former military sniper has been postponed following the Dallas police shootings.

Shooter was scheduled to air on 19 July but has been pushed back until 26 July “as a show of respect and to honour the fallen officers of Dallas, Texas”.

Phillippe’s co-star Eddie McClintock tweeted the news after five policemen were fatally shot during a Black Lives Matter protest last Friday. The march was in response to the recent deaths of two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, at the hands of police.

Ten-part series Shooter is based on Stephen Hunter’s bestselling novel Point of Impact, which became a film starring Mark Wahlberg in 2007.

The story follows Phillippe’s exiled marksman Bob Lee Swagger as he is coaxed back to undercover policing by his former commanding officer (Omar Epps) after his colleagues learn of a plot to assassinate the president.

Shooter reportedly opens with the sound of gunshots and real life photos of gun violence. USA Network has released a statement confirming that its premiere has been delayed “in light of recent tragic events and out of respect for the victims, their families and our viewers”.

Past shows to be rescheduled after life tragically imitated art include The Last Ship following the Orlando gay club shooting, Mr Robot after two news reporters were shot on live TV and NCIS: Los Angeles in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.