Gad lands "Rocker" gig opposite Wilson

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-08 15:30

LOS ANGELES - Josh Gad will star opposite Rainn Wilson in "The Rocker," a music-themed comedy Peter Cattaneo is directing for Fox Atomic.

The film tells the story of a failed, over-the-hill drummer (Wilson) who, 20 years after getting booted out of a now uber-famous band, gets a second chance at fame with a new band.

Gad plays Wilson's nephew and head of a high school rock band that Wilson joins.

Ryan Jaffe wrote the original screenplay, while Wallace Wolodarsky and Maya Forbes are penning the most recent draft.

Gad took over Dan Fogler's Tony Award-winning role as William Barfee in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" on Broadway in 2006. This fall, he stars alongside Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton and Fred Willard in Fox's "Back to You," scheduled to air Wednesdays. On the feature side, Gad will be seen in "21," with Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth, as well as Wayne Kramer's immigration ensemble "Crossing Over."