Melissa George pregnancy forces delay of NBC drama ‘Heartbreaker’

Melissa George is expecting, so NBC is having to do the unexpected with its fall drama “Heartbreaker.”

George, the 38-year-old star of the hospital drama that NBC touted last month for its Tuesday fall lineup, is pregnant with her second child, due later this year. The network announced Friday that it was revising the show’s production schedule this summer to accommodate the star’s situation, and that another hospital show, “Chicago Med,” will take the place of “Heartbreaker,” which will be pushed back to midseason.

It’s unclear how many episodes the “Heartbreaker” producers will be able to shoot before George begins her pregnancy break. But it’s unlikely that production will resume until early next year, according to a source familiar with the situation. Broadcasters typically order 22 episodes per season of dramas, although shorter runs are becoming increasingly common.

In “Heartbreaker,” George plays Dr. Alex Panttiere, a glamorous and outspoken heart-transplant surgeon. The premise does not seem to allow for a pregnancy or new-mom sleep deprivation. According to an NBC release, Alex “revels in a racy personal life that’s a full-time job in itself.”

The Australian-born George previously appeared in CBS’ “The Good Wife” and NBC’s “The Slap.”

What do you think of George? Will you watch “Heartbreaker”?

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT