Eddie Izzard Signs 'Holding Deal' to Star in NBC Series

Variety reports that funnyman Eddie Izzard has signed a talent 'holding deal' with NBC to possibly become the network's next leading man.

The one-year agreement guarentees the British comedian an executive producer credit on a series if he is cast as the lead in the program. Izzard recently guest- starred on NBC's "Hannibal" and led the one-night only Munsters reboot event, 'Mockingbird Lane' last year.

Izzard's U.S. TV credits include "The Good Wife" and "United States of Tara." Known for cross-dressing, Izzard rose to fame in the late '90s with stand-up spesh "Dressed to Kill," which earned him a Primetime Emmy.

In 1994, Izzard made his West End drama debut as the lead in the world premiere of David Mamet's The Cryptogram with Lindsay Duncan, in the production at London's Comedy Theatre. The success of that role led to his second starring role in David Beaird's black comedy 900 Oneonta. In 1995, he portrayed the title character in Christopher Marlowe's Edward II.

Izzard portrayed comedian Lenny Bruce in the 1999 production of Julian Barry's 1971 play Lenny. In 2001, he replaced Clive Owen in Peter Nichols' 1967 play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg at the Comedy Theatre. Izzard and Victoria Hamilton then repeated their lead roles when the show was brought to Broadway in 2003, with The Roundabout Theatre Company production. In June 2010, Izzard replaced James Spader in the role of Jack Lawson in David Mamet's play Race on Broadway.

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