Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells Lands Lead in NBC's Ryan Murphy Comedy

Book of Mormon actor Andrew Rannells has landed the lead role in Ryan Murphy's NBC comedy project, Deadline reports.

The single-camera comedy, which is still in development at the network, comes from executive producers Murphy and Dante DiLoreto, both behind Gleeand American Horror Story, and new Glee scribe Ali Adler. Rannells would star as one half of a gay couple trying to start a family with the help of a surrogate. The actor has signed a talent holding deal with NBC and series producer 20^th Century Fox TV.

Murphy will direct the pilot should NBC greenlight production.

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Rannells, who stars opposite Josh Gad in the Tony-winning Broadway musical, will make his on-screen debut in HBO's upcoming comedy Girls.