"Species" star Natasha Henstridge is joining the cast of "The Secret Circle," The CW's pilot based on author L.J. Smith's novel about witches, according to Deadline.

Kevin Williamson ("Scream"), co-creator and executive producer of "The Vampire Diaries," is co-writing the pilot with Andrew Miller.

"The Secret Circle" centers on Cassie ("Life Unexpected" star Britt Robertson), a shy teenage girl who moves to a new town and who learns that she is a witch. As a member of a secret coven, she soon becomes the key that will unlock an ancient battle between good and evil.

Henstridge will play Dawn Chamberlain, the vice principal of New Salem High School, who was a friend of Cassie’s mother and who is well aware of the secret coven.

She joins another recent signing to the series, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" star Thomas Dekker, who will play a member of the witches' circle.

Produced by the studios behind "The Vampire Diaries" -- Alloy Entertainment, WBTV and CBS TV Studios -- the pilot joins five other projects previously picked up by The CW. Two of the pilots are also genre shows: "Awakening," a zombie drama, and "Heavenly," a legal drama with supernatural elements.

Williamson and Miller are executive producing "The Secret Circle" along with Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain, Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo.

In addition to spearheading the hit series "The Vampire Diaries," Williamson penned "Scream 4," which hits theaters April 15 with director Wes Craven ("A Nightmare on Elm Street") at the helm. He is also writing the script for "The Bedroom Window," based on the novel "The Witnesses" by Anne Holden.