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\n\tEXCLUSIVE: <\/strong>Emmy winner Chris O\u2019Dowd (The IT Crowd<\/em>) has inked a deal to join comedian Bill Burr in Bender<\/em>, the coming-of-age comedy shooting in Ireland this summer.<\/p>\n \n\tDescribed as Superbad<\/em> meets Derry Girls<\/em>, Bender<\/em> is based on the late-\u201970s, post-punk Dublin coming-of-age experiences of Adrian Cunningham, who penned the script. The story unfolds amid the frenzy surrounding an impending papal visit.<\/p>\n \n\tO\u2019Dowd plays a self-made family man trying to put on a brave face while his business, his marriage, and his faith begin to crumble amid a brutal economic recession.<\/p>\n \n\tAs previously announced, Burr plays a gruff American record-store owner who convinces a ragtag gang of teenage misfits that their best, and possibly only, chance to lose their virginity before graduating high school is at a massive open-air mass for the visiting Pope.<\/p>\n \n\tWe were first to report on Burr\u2019s involvement, along with that of Pluribus <\/em>helmer Adam Bernstein, who is aboard to direct.<\/p>\n \n\tStephen McCormack and Craig Verdon of Reflektor Media are producing in partnership with actress Lesley-Ann Brandt (Presumed Innocent<\/em>, Lucifer<\/em>) through The Mal Picture Company and Cunningham through Martello Films, with Burr serving as an executive producer.<\/p>\n \n\tAn Irish actor known for roles in projects like The IT Crowd<\/em>, Bridesmaids<\/em>, Get Shorty<\/em>, and Slumberland<\/em>, O\u2019Dowd has most recently been seen starring in the Apple series The Big Door Prize<\/em>, with additional roles in the shows Small Town, Big Story<\/em> and Black Mirror<\/em>. Upcoming, he\u2019ll be seen in two films from Amazon MGM Studios: the comedy The Sheep Detectives<\/em> with Hugh Jackman, as well as Luca Guadagnino\u2019s drama Artificial<\/em> focused on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.<\/p>\n \n\tO\u2019Dowd is repped by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n