The single-camera comedy, which is titled "The Third Coast," will be directed by Jay Roach. Bening and the producers of the series will hold an informal reading before taking the idea to HBO.

The series, Deadline.com reports, "revolves around a larger-than-life casting director (Bening) in New Mexico." Executive producers are writer Rudnick, director Roach and John Lyons.

Rudnick's other plays include I Hate Hamlet, Valhalla and Regrets Only. His novels are "Social Disease" and "I'll Take It," both published by Knopf, and his screenplays include "Addams Family Values," "In & Out" and the screen adaptation of "Jeffrey."

Bening was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Coastal Disturbances. Her film credits include "American Beauty" (Academy Award nomination), "The Grifters" (Academy Award nomination), "Running with Scissors," "Being Julia" (Academy Award nomination), "Richard III," "The American President," "Postcards from the Edge" and "The Siege," among others.