William H. Macy has taken the lead role in an unusual new romantic comedy called The Deal.

The Thank You For Smoking star has been working on adapting the story from a book by Peter Lefcourt, about a movie producer beset by bad fortune who makes a final attempt to save his ailing career with a period drama about Benjamin Disraeli written by his nephew.

Romance emerges when a hard-hearted studio executive falls for the unlucky man and attempts to help save the situation when everything goes wrong.

Shooting will begin in Romania in October, with Lisa Kudrow playing Macy's love interest, Production Weekly reports.