Debra Messing, the Emmy winning-star of "Will & Grace," is close to a deal to join a NBC musical pilot in a lead role, reports TVLine.com.

On the show, titled "Smash," Messing would play Julia, a good-natured lyricist in the show about a group of characters who work together to create a Broadway show about Marilyn Monroe, the story notes.

The project is from Steven Spielberg, "Chicago"’s Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and "Hairspray" songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the article adds.