'Glee' alum joins cast of HBO new comedy series

Jesse St. James is heading to San Francisco. Or, rather, the actor who played St. James on Glee is.

Jonathan Groff has been cast in the lead role in a new untitled HBO comedy series that focuses on a group of friends in the city. The series is being developed by Bored to Death's Sarah Condon and writer Michael Lannan.

Groff will be playing Patrick, a gay man who works as a successful video-game developer. While that part of his life is flying high, his love life is down in the dumps. Patrick and his other three thirty-something gay friends will explore contemporary life and the difficulties that face gay people in today's society.

Frankie Alvarez has also joined the cast as Augustin, Patrick's best friend who is an artist's assistant. The egotistical Augustin wants to settle down with his boyfriend but finds politics standing in his way.

Andrew Haigh will be directing the pilot, which is based on "Lorimer," a feature script written by Lannan.

Groff recently appeared on the now-cancelled Kelsey Grammer vehicle Boss, as well as The Good Wife and the movies "The Conspirator" and "Taking Woodstock."

He will be providing a voice in the upcoming Disney animated feature Frozen, as well.