Brian d'Arcy James Exits CBS Pilot SUPERIOR DONUTS, Based on Tracy Letts Comedy

Deadline reports that Broadway's Brian d'Arcy James has exited the upcoming CBS pilot SUPERIOR DONUTS, based on Tracy Letts' 2008 play. The SOMETHING ROTTEN star was originally cast in the lead role opposite Jermaine Fowler in the project which hails from CBS TV Studios. Originally announced co-stars Maz Jobrani and David Koechner, along with Fowler, remain on board.

The comedy pilot, which was not picked up by CBS for its fall schedule, is expected to film this summer for a possible midseason premiere. The multi-camera project will center on "the relationship between the owner of a donut shop, his new young employee and their patrons in a gentrifying neighborhood of Chicago."

D'Arcy James was set to play 'Arthur', owner of the Superior Donuts store, described as "typically gruff to-the-point Chicagoan and the patriarch to his loyal customers." Fowler will take on the role of Franco, "the highly energetic new employee at the donut shop, working under the owner, Arthur. As gentrification looms, Franco sees Superior Donuts as a symbol of everything he loves about the neighborhood with its authenticity and realness, so he makes it his mission to drag the shop - and ARTHUR - into the 21st century."

The project will be penned by Neil Goldman, Garrett Donovan and Bob Daily, who will executive produce along with Mark Teitelbaum, John Montgomery, Michael Rotenberg and Josh Lieberman. Daily will serve as showrunner.

Steppenwolf's 2009 production of SUPERIOR DONUTS transferred to Broadway's Music Box Theatre in September of that year. The play was written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Tracy Letts. The production, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau, enjoyed a sold-out world premiere in Chicago.

Tony nominee Brian D'Arcy James recently appeared in this year's Academy Award-winning Best Picture SPOTLIGHT and currently stars in Broadway's SOMETHING ROTTEN! The actor has also appeared on the small screen in MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, LAW & ORDER: SVU, SMASH, THE GOOD WIFE, PERSON OF INTEREST, RESCUE ME and more. Among his past Broadway credits are MACBETH, TIME STANDS STILL, NEXT TO NORMAL, SHREK THE MUSICAL, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, TITANIC, CAROUSEL and BLOOD BROTHERS.

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