'Pitch Perfect' Actor Skylar Astin Lands Lead Role In NBA Comedy Series

Skylar Astin
Skylar Astin at Pitch Perfect Premiere (2012) |

Pitch Perfect's Skylar Astin has begun skyrocketing to fame following the increase in the demand for him to play the lead roles in various small screen shows. Hence, the cancellation of his most recent TV series stint, Ground Floor, appear to only be a minor bump in the road to his success as the talented singer and actor is now slated to portray the main character for an upcoming ABC show, according to Variety.

The show will be NBA-centered comedy. Although no official title has been provided as of the moment, the rumor mill revealed that it might be called Shootin' Hopes. It will revolve around the adventures of "a non-English speaking rookie and a non-basketball speaking translator." Needless to say, Astin will be playing the latter role mentioned.

Astin's character, named Jason, is described as a regular guy who works as a teaching assistant. He leans a bit more on the languid type of man as opposed to the aggressive and masculine versions of his gender. As if his impassiveness is not enough to highlight his difference from the more active men in the show, Jason also still lives with his parents in their basement.

However, his life takes an unexpected turn when is recruited as a translator for one of the members of the National Basketball Association (NBA) team. All of a sudden, this sweet passive guy with no athletic prowess whatsoever gets thrown into a group obviously known for their muscularity, vigor and macho qualities.

His job primarily deals with translating for a new NBA recruit from Botswan, who is described as talented but lazy. As Jason spends more time with the team, however, he quickly discovers that he is doing more than he signed up for as he struggles to find a place in the land of the giants.

The series is created by Dan Fogelman, who is also behind various hit TV shows like The Neighbors and Galavant as well as the screenplay writer of blockbuster movies such as Bolt, Cars 2, Tangled, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. Moreover, this upcoming project is fully supported by the NBA. Hence, the viewers could expect that the characters will bear the actual names of the athletes and the team names.