'Tropic Thunder' redux? Theroux, Coogan, and Stiller bring 'Documental' to HBO

It's a "Tropic Thunder" reunion: HBO has greenlighted "Documental," a new half-hour comedy from that film's alums, Justin Theroux, Steve Coogan and Ben Stiller. Written and to be directed by Theroux, who co-stars with the British comedian Coogan, the pilot follows a documentary filmmaker (Theroux) who, according to Deadline, "tracks down his idol, an equally inept filmmaker (Coogan), and documents his return to his craft." Theroux and Coogan will executive produce with Stiller, Michael Rotenberg, Nick Frenkel, and Paul Simms; the latter serves as a consulting producer on HBO's "Bored to Death."

Career-wise, these are good times for Coogan, who's also reprising his role as Alan Partridge, the painfully awkward talk show host he made famous on British television, for a new online series called "Mid Morning Matters." Sponsored by Fosters beer, the series will premiere on the company's web site Friday. Watch him flounder artfully in the trailer below:

 

--Melissa Maerz

Photo: Steve Coogan will costar with Justin Theroux in HBO's "Documental"; Credit: Ian Gavan/Getty Images