Jason Schwartzman has been tapped as the lead in HBO’s comedy pilot “Bored to Death,” lifting the contingency on the project.

The Jonathan Ames-penned “Bored” centers on Jonathan (Schwartzman), a struggling thirtysomething writer with a drinking problem in Brooklyn who, following a painful breakup with his girlfriend, decides to emulate his heroes from the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. He takes out an ad pretending to be a private detective and starts taking cases — solving some and making others worse.

Production on “Bored” is slated for September in New York. Ames is exec producing with Dave Becky, Sarah Condon and Stephanie Davis, with Seth Gordon serving as consultant.

Also in September, Schwartzman will begin filming Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” opposite Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Eric Bana.

“Bored” is one of two pilots greenlighted by new HBO entertainment president Sue Naegle; the other is the Alexander Payne-directed dark comedy “Hung,” which is casting the lead.

Schwartzman is repped by Endeavor and attorney Warren Dern.

Judd Apatow has rounded out the cast and picked a title and start date for his next directing vehicle.

Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill have joined the ensemble of “Funny People,” which will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Columbia Pictures, with Universal distributing worldwide next summer.

Apatow set Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in the comedy earlier this year (Daily Variety, March 10).

The filmmaker, who last wrote and directed “Knocked Up,” was deliberately vague about subject matter, allowing only that the movie takes place in the world of standup comedy and the focus is on a comedian who has a near-death experience.

Pic’s a co-production of Apatow Prods. and Happy Madison, and Apatow is producing with Clayton Townsend and Barry Mendel. Jack Giarraputo, Rogen and Evan Goldberg are exec producers. Production begins in mid-September in Los Angeles.

Bana began his career as a comic on the standup circuit in Australia and starred in the sketch comedy series “Full Frontal” and “The Eric Bana Show” before remaking himself as a dramatic actor. Bana most recently shot “Star Trek” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”

Hill starred in the Apatow-produced “Superbad” and appeared in “Knocked Up” and “The 40 Year-Old Virgin.”

Apatow and Sandler teamed with Robert Smigel to write the script for current release “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan.” Apatow is also producer of the Adam McKay-directed “Step Brothers,” starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, and the stoner comedy “Pineapple Express.” Col releases “Step Brothers” on July 25 and “Pineapple Express” on Aug. 8.

I also replaced the 2007 photoshoot I added in the last update with HQ versions.