Steve Coogan will replace the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in new Showtime series Happyish.
Hoffman had portrayed a hapless advertising executive in writer Shalom Auslander's pilot, prior to his death from a drug overdose in February.
The fate of the series was uncertain in the aftermath of the tragedy, but Showtime has confirmed that Coogan is stepping into the lead role.
"Steve's range is astounding. He is a comedy legend, a gifted satirist, and he possesses the unique combination of talents this role demands," Auslander said in a statement.
Coogan will play Thom Payne, an advertising executive whose life is upended when a 25-year-old is hired as his new boss.
Payne finds himself increasingly at odds with the changing digital landscape as he wonders if he can still find happiness in his work.
