The Suddenly Problematic Patton Oswalt Leaves Another Project

Are things all right with Patton Oswalt? The comic actor drew raves for his dark turn in last year's indie Big Fan, then looked poised to burnish his dramatic bona fides with a Broadway debut in Lips Together, Teeth Apart opposite Megan Mullally and Lili Taylor. Mullally eventually quit the show out of dissatisfaction with Oswalt's performance, but he wasted no time booking his next gig; now that, too, is in jeopardy.

According to THR, Oswalt bolted the Matthew Broderick comedy pilot Beach Lane after the first table read. You may recall that NBC announced his casting just three days ago. Says the trade:

One source added that producers have offered Oswalt another part instead, but it's unclear at this time if Oswalt is interested in staying on the show in a different role.

Oswalt was set to play James, a slacker with inherited wealth who's given the job of running a small Hamptons newspaper. James hires a renowned journalist (Broderick) to help turn the paper around.

NBCU and Oswalt's reps had no comment.

[Photo Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images]

Is Patton Oswalt leaving NBC's 'Beach Lane'? [THR]