'The Young and the Restless' Casts New Adam Newman

The Young and the Restless has finally cast its new Adam Newman, and they have hit a home run.

Justin Hartley knocked out the competition to land the role of Adam on
The Young and the Restless.

Mistresses actor Justin Hartley has nabbed the much-discussed role, according to TVGuide.com. He replaces Michael Muhney, who was fired from the soap last December and aired for the last time on January 30.

"I'm so pumped about joining Y&R — I watch it all the time and can't wait to get in there and get my hands dirty!" says Hartley, whose credits include Passions, Smallville, Emily Owens, M.D. and Revenge. "I have great respect for daytime drama. I love the branding. I love the style. What can I say? I love good soap!"

Hartley's tortured portrayal of Patrick Osbourne in Revenge proved beyond a doubt he has the range necessary to play the multi-dimensional Adam on Y&R.

"It's all about story and character with me and I don't care if the job is on daytime or primetime or the web. Hey, give me a good character and someone to listen and I'll do my acting on a street corner."

Hartley says he met with Y&R exec producer Jill Farren Phelps and CBS Daytime chief Angelica McDaniel to talk about the Adam role and "came away feeling very excited. The powers that be are smart, lovely people with kind hearts. It'll be wonderful going to work knowing I'm really wanted. Y&R is the No. 1 show and the acting company is exceptional. There's no period of adjustment with these people and that's daunting. I don't just have to be fantastic, I have to be fantastic right now!"

Hartley will report for work at The Young and the Restless in late September and is scheduled to hit the air during November sweeps.