'Bridesmaids' Star to Front HBO Comedy From Christopher Guest

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Christopher Guest and Chris O'Dowd

HBO is teaming with Christopher Guest for a documentary-style family comedy.

The premium cable network has given a straight-to-series order to Family Tree, a comedy starring Bridesmaids'  Chris O'Dowd, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The project centers on 30-year-old Tom Chadwick (O'Dowd) who, after losing his job and his girlfriend, begins exploring his family heritage after inheriting a mysterious box from a great aunt he never met. Unsure of his identity, he uncovers a world of unusual stories and characters -- as well as a growing sense of who he and his real family are.

Guest and longtime partner Jim Piddock created the project and will executive produce. Both also are expected to appear in Family Tree, which will begin casting immediately. Guest will direct the project, which is said to have the same feel has his previous works including Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and Waiting for Guffman.

The network has ordered eight episodes of the single-camera half-hour effort, which will air simultaneously on the BBC 2 in the U.K. It is produced by NBC Universal International TV's Lucky Giant Productions' Guest, Piddock and Karen Murphy.

Family Tree joins an HBO comedy roster that includes Girls, Veep and Enlightened, Eastbound & Down, among others.

A premiere date has not yet been determined.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit