Taylor Lautner Replacing Andy Samberg in BBC Comedy 'Cuckoo'

Credit: Vertigo Entertainment

Andy Samberg's loss is Taylor Lautner's gain!

The former Twilight star will be replacing Samberg in the upcoming second series of BBC Three's hit "culture clash comedy" Cuckoo. Lautner will play "a mysterious young stranger who shows up in Lichfield, Staffordshire," where the show is based.

Series 2 is set two years after hippy title character Cuckoo – played by Saturday Night Live alumnus and Golden Globe-winning Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg - disappeared while researching a book in the Himalayas, leaving his wife Rachel (Tamla Kari) to move on without him. Her parents, Ken (Greg Davies) and Lorna (Helen Baxendale), along with her brother Dylan (Tyger Drew-Honey) are just getting their lives back together when Lautner's character arrives to stir up trouble.

Premiere in September 2012, Cuckoo was BBC3's highest-rated comedy, raking in 1.15 million viewers. A second series was all but certain...until Samberg's pilot, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, was picked up to series by FOX. Now that Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a hit in its own right, Samberg is no longer free to film Series 2 of Cuckoo. So it's Lautner to the rescue, since I guess one American is as good as another?

"Cuckoo was one of BBC3's most stand-out comedies," said BBC3 controller Zai Bennett, "so I'm delighted to welcome it back with the addition of superstar Taylor Lautner joining the critically acclaimed Greg Davies and an outstanding British comedy cast for what will be one of the comedy treats of the year."

Executive producer Ash Atalla (The Office, The IT Crowd) added, "Cuckoo is one of my favourite shows I've ever been involved in. We can't wait to come back bigger and better."

No premiere date has been announced just yet, but BBC3 is hoping Series 2 of Cuckoo will deliver on the massive success of its debut.

Via: The Guardian