Alexander Payne to Direct Hung

The director of Sideways and Election is heading to HBO. Alexander Payne has signed on to direct the networks upcoming dark-comedy Hung, reports Variety.

Hung revolves around a well-endowed man who is plodding along in middle age as a struggling father and high school coach. The character was once a high school sports legend, and his luck returns when he figures out a way to use his best asset.

Payne’s attachment is a good sign that Hung is about to be greenlit to pilot. The project was the first lined up at the network by new HBO Entertainment series chief Sue Naegle and it’s been on the fast track ever since.

Hung marks Payne’s first directing gig for TV. The project comes from Blueprint Entertainment and was co-created by Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin. Lipkin also created FX’s The Riches.