Dustin Hoffman boards HBO's 'Luck'

Dustin Hoffman has been cast in HBO's drama pilot Luck, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project, which will see the 72-year-old star alongside John Ortiz and Dennis Farina, marks Hoffman's first major television series gig.

Luck takes a look at the worlds of horse racing and gambling and is told through a group of characters who surround a racetrack.

Hoffman will play a "intelligent, intuitive, tough man" who has a long history with gambling. After being released from prison, he teams with Farina's Gus to perfect a plan involving the track. They later recruit a successful trainer called Turo Escalante (Ortiz).

The pilot is apparently eyeing a spring production start in Los Angeles.