More Details On HBO's 'Looking'

HBO has revealed some more details about its upcoming gay-themed dramedy: the series is called "Looking" and will star Russell Tovey, a British actor best known for his role as a werewolf on BBC's "Being Human," the Hollywood Reporter reports.

"Looking" will have eight half-hour episodes and is about the lives of a group of gay men living in San Francisco. Tovey, 31, who played a werewolf named George Sands on BBC's supernatural drama "Being Human," which also inspired a U.S. version on the SyFy network, will play Kevin on "Looking."

"Kevin, an accomplished video game wunderkind who has achieved financial and critical success at a young age," the Hollywood Reporter writes. "Kevin, who is gay, works closely with Patrick, the show's lead, played by Jonathan Groff."

This is Tovey's first major role in the U.S. The British actor, who is openly gay, discussed the part with the U.K. newspaper the Independent.

What makes this role unique for Tovey is that is the first time he'll be playing a character.

"Every character I play is straight, which is unique, my agent says, because it's not really been done before that someone who is completely out is able to play straight roles," he said. "So for me to play gay it has to be something special, because it might actually be more of a risk. So I'm waiting for that role -- I want it to be something that moves things forward."

"Looking" also stars Frankie J. Alvarez and Murray Barlett and was created by Michael Lannan. The series finds the friends "hunt for love and good times, with all manner of modern conveniences at their disposal," the Hollywood Reporter adds. Scott Bakula will play Lynn, a wealthy and popular figure in the San Francisco LGBT community.

The pilot episode was written by Lanna and was directed Andrew Haigh, who directed the critically acclaimed 2011 film "Weekend." Haigh, along with Sarah Condon, is also an executive producer.

The first season of "Looking," which earned buzz earlier this year after it was hailed as the gay version to shows like "Sex and the City" and "Girls," will start shooting in San Francisco in the upcoming weeks.