The "24" alum will play the President of the United States, reported Deadline.
Sutherland, 48, will also serve as the executive producer.
The project written by David Guggenheim has received a straight-to-series order.
It also marks the first production commitment from the newly formed Mark Gordon Company studios.
The story revolves around a lower level United States Cabinet member (Sutherland), who is suddenly appointed President after a fatal attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him.