Tony Nominee Josh Gad to Play the Late Comedian Sam Kinison in Upcoming Biopic

Former Mormon missionary Josh Gad has signed on to play late comedian Sam Kinison in a biopic directed by Larry Charles (Borat, Bruno), reports Deadline.

The film, scripted by Rich Wilkes, tells the story of Kinison beginning in the ‘80s, when he began his transition from Pentecostal preacher to a sharp-tongued stand-up comedian. His trademark scream would define his intense stand-up routine, which became well known after he starred opposite Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School. The comic’s career was cut short when he died in a car crash at the age of 38.

Since departing the original cast of The Book of Mormon in June 2012, Gad has been in high demand in Hollywood, co-creating and starring in the short-lived NBC sitcom 1600 Penn. The Tony nominee's next major screen appearance will be opposite Ashton Kutcher in the Steve Jobs biopic Jobs, due in theaters August 16.