Rainn Wilson to Play Title Character on Backstrom
Matt Richenthal
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Rainn Wilson is leaving both The Office and the world of comedy behind.
The actor has been cast as the title character on Backstrom, a CBS pilot that focuses on an overweight and offensive detective who is attempting to change his self-destructive behavior.
The series - based on a Swedish book series by Leif G.W. Persson and produced for TV by Hart Hanson (Bones) will also star Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha and Page Kennedy.
The news comes just a couple days after The Office filmed its final scene, and also the week after that NBC sitcom aired what was meant to be a backdoor pilot for a Dwight Schrute spinoff titled The Farm.
But it was not meant to be - and NBC's loss will now be CBS' gain.
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.
