The pilot - loosely based on Merchant's stand-up tour of the same name - will star the English comic as an unlucky-in-love loser searching for the woman of his dreams in Los Angeles.
© ABC
© BBC Pictures
FlashForward actress Woods will play the sitcom's female lead Jessica, an actress who rents out Stephen's guest house and rejects his romantic advances, according to Deadline.
The 29-year-old's past credits include episodes of How I Met Your Mother, House and Castle. She also starred in short-lived NBC comedy Perfect Couples.
Hello Ladies recently cast Nate Torrence (Mr. Sunshine) and Kevin Weisman (Alias) as single friends of Stephen.
The Office co-creator Merchant will executive produce Hello Ladies alongside Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (Bad Teacher). The pilot is expected to shoot in late 2012.
> HBO orders new pilot from Stephen Merchant
Watch Stephen Merchant discuss his Hello Ladies stand-up tour with Digital Spy below:
