Jason Schwartzman cast in HBO comedy pilot

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jason Schwartzman will play the lead role in HBO's comedy pilot "Bored to Death," about a struggling thirtysomething writer with a drinking problem.

Following a painful breakup with his girlfriend, his character decides to emulate his heroes from the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. He takes out an ad pretending to be a private detective and starts taking cases -- solving some and making others worse.

Production is slated for September in New York. Also in September, Schwartzman will begin filming Judd Apatow's "Funny People" opposite Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Eric Bana.

Schwartzman, who made his feature debut in the 1998 film "Rushmore," recently starred in the features "Marie Antoinette" and "The Darjeeling Limited."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter