Ben Stiller signs on to star in Jewish family comedy for HBO

Ben Stiller has signed on to star in a Jewish family comedy for HBO called All Talk. Stiller will direct the pilot and also act as executive producer on the show.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, All Talk comes from an idea by Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close novelist Jonathan Safran Foer. HBO is billing the series as a “politically, religiously, culturally, intellectually and sexually irreverent” show centering on a Jewish family based in Washington, DC.

Alan Alda is reportedly in talks to also star in the show, which would become his first regular television series since M*A*S*H ended.

In the announcement, HBO's president of programming Michael Lombardo said of Stiller, “Ben Stiller continues to be a major, multi-talented star because of his discerning ability to embrace creative and innovative projects - whatever the medium.” According to Ace Show Biz, Lombardo also added that he is “...enormously pleased that Ben responded to this extraordinary work from Jonathan Safran Foer."

Stiller’s co-executive producers include The Dictator producer Scott Rudin, Foer and Eli Bush, reports The Wrap. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Stiller and Rudin worked together on Zoolander and The Royal Tenenbaums, so All Talk will act as a reunion for the two.

Stiller’s activity has been on the rise. He will direct and star in a remake of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and will also star in Fox’s Rentaghost. In November, he also signed a deal with ABC to produce shows under his Red Hour Films production company.