Don Cheadle has signed on to star in Showtime's House of Lies pilot

The Iron Man 2 actor will take the lead in the half-hour dark comedy created by Matthew Carnahan (Dirt).

The series is based on the book House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Tell You the Time. The project will enter production in February.

“Don Cheadle is one of the great dramatic actors of our generation,” said Showtime entertainment president David Nevins. “He also happens to be an extremely funny man. House of Lies is the perfect show to take advantage of both sides of him. Honestly, I would have been happy just to get his autograph.”