Jack Black and Tim Robbins to star in a new politically themed HBO series, The Brink

If the threat of global annihilation were on the cusp, who would you want to defend your nation? If you imagined someone along the lines of either Tim Robbins or Jack Black, you are not alone. HBO and producer Jay Roach have both of those actors in mind for the upcoming series THE BRINK. Deadline reports that the two actors will take lead roles in the series that follows three government employees involved with a major catastrophe.

HBO has been the home to the satirical comedy VEEP which takes a slanted look at Washington politics as well as the Jay Roach directed films GAME CHANGE and RECOUNT. Roach’s most recent film was the political comedy THE CAMPAIGN starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. But, THE BRINK seems to be following more of the satire angle than broad comedy.

THE BRINK is described as an epic dark comedy focusing on a geopolitical crisis and its effect on three disparate and desperate men: U.S. Secretary of State Walter Hollander (Robbins), a man of big appetites and little patience for the war mongers in the Situation Room; Coppins (Black), a lowly Foreign Service officer reluctantly caught on the ground in the middle of it all; and ace Navy fighter pilot Zeke Callahan. These three compromised souls must pull through the chaos around them to save the planet from World War III.

No word on if this will be a limited series or a full 13 episode order like most cable shows. Getting actors like Tim Robbins and Jack Black will certainly guarantee a good amount of viewers when it premieres, but it will be just how funny the show is that will sell it. I can think of no two actors who have a more disparate acting resume than these two. I wonder who they will get for the fighter pilot role?

THE BRINK has no premiere date but expect to see it sometime in 2014.