He started this month as a total unknown, but Project X quickly turned Thomas Mann into… okay, not quite a star, but someone who can at least get starring roles. That’s just as good, really.

With the bigwigs’ attention, Variety reports that Mann and Keir Gilchrist (It’s Kind of a Funny Story) are being sought to lead King Dork. We reported on this about two weeks ago; produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay‘s Gary Sanchez Productions, directed by Matt Piedmont (Casa de mi Padre), and based on Frank Portman‘s novel, Dork is an ’80-set story of two friends, Tom and Sam, who bond over their mutual love of classic rock. If these casting plans go through, Mann will be playing Tom, while Gilchrist would land the part of Sam. Meanwhile, Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) has entered negotiations to play Tom’s misunderstanding stepfather. (Or, the kind of role he was basically made for.)

Though I’m sad to say that Mann and Gilchrist aren’t presences I’ve encountered on the screen, the positive feedback granted to the latter on Funny Story is just about enough for me not to question the pick. (Maybe that says more about how much I need not to do so in the first place.) And everyone likes Offerman, the kind of guy whose talent no one will doubt or downplay. With these three taking the leads, a promising project like King Dork only looks brighter.

Would you be satisfied with either doing lead work in King Dork? What about Offerman in his respective role?