(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Elijah Wood is set to star in a live-action comedy television series about a dog named Wilfred.

The programme is being hailed as original and the Lord of the Rings actor will play the part of Ryan, who thinks Wilfred - portrayed by Jason Gann - is not a dog but in fact a man dressed in a canine outfit.

American television channel FX has ordered 13 episodes of the show also named Wilfred, which was piloted by Family Guy writer David Zuckerman.

We loved how well the pilot turned out, and we were blown away by the chemistry between Elijah Wood and Jason Gann, Nick Grad, FXs executive vice president of original programming, told Entertainment Weekly. Its a very unique concept and we think David Zuckerman has a great take on it.

The comedy serial will mark Elijahs first departure from the big screen to television. Recently the 28-year-old has been keeping a low profile, some of his latest work being to voice the lead in the short animated film 9.

The pilot for Wilfred was shot this summer and Woods hopes that the series will be a big success.

Wood plays an introvert who meets Wilfred [Jason Gann, who co-created and played the title character in the Australian version of Wilfred], whos described by Zuckerman as part Australian Shepherd, part Russell Crowe on a bender, Entertainment Weekly said. (C) Cover Media