Steve Coogan to take Philip Seymour Hoffman role in ‘Happyish’

British actor Steve Coogan is going to take over the lead in Showtime’s upcoming bittersweet comedy “Happyish.”

The project will finally move ahead after being thrown into doubt earlier this year when star Philip Seymour Hoffman died of what a medical examiner called drug intoxication. At the time of his death in February, Hoffman had already shot the pilot for the series.

In “Happyish,” Coogan, who is perhaps best-known for playing a journalist helping an elderly woman find her lost son in “Philomena,” will play a middle-age executive whose life is thrown into turmoil by the arrival at his company of a much younger boss.

“Happyish” was created by Shalom Auslander, a contributor to the radio show “This American Life.”

In a statement, Auslander praised his new star: “Steve’s range is astounding -- he is a comedy legend, a gifted satirist, and he possesses the unique combination of talents this role demands.”

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Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT