Actor-comedian Josh Gad has landed the co-lead opposite Billy Crystal in the cable pilot The Comedians. Gad also will serve as a producer on the project from writers/executive producers Billy Crystal, Larry Charles, Matt Nix, and Ben Wexler.
Based on a Swedish format, The Comedians centers on a young, hip comic on the rise (Gad) who resents – and rails against – his pairing with an aging superstar comedian (Crystal) for a late-night comedy sketch show. Charles is directing the FX/Fox TV Studios pilot, with Mikkel Bondesen and Henrik Bastin also executive producing.
The Comedians expands Gad’s relationship with Charles after the actor recently signed on to star as Sam Kinison in the Charles-directed biopic of the comedian. The Book Of Mormon and 1600 Penn alum Gad will next be seen as Steve Wozniak in Jobs, in Thanks For Sharing as well as Zach Braff’s Wish I Was Here and Best Man, Inc. opposite Kevin Hart. He is with Brillstein Entertainment, ICM Partners & Ziffren Brittenham.
