Johnny Austen Joins the Comedy Pilot 'Cheap Rent'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Acclaimed Australian actor Johnny Austen has joined the upcoming comedy pilot “Cheap Rent,” from producers Maegan McConnell (“Side Hustle”) and Heather Wood.

“I’m very grateful to be a part of this exciting new production from two of the most creative people I know,” Austen said. “I’ve worked with Maegan and Heather before and they’re extremely talented and very dedicated to their work, so I’m looking forward to working with them once again.”

The pilot, which is now casting and set to be shot later this spring, tells the story of Kimberly, a lonely landlady who is in desperate need for friendship while her tenants patiently put up with her eccentricity because their building is rent controlled.

“My character, the bartender Jo, was originally written as a British woman, but the writers, Maegan McConnell and Heather Wood loved how men played the character,” he said. “Having me take the role was, to them, the obvious choice. I love the role because it allows me to play a character I haven't been able to play so far. Since moving to the U.S. I've only been able to play Americans and English people. It's nice to do something a lot closer to home.”

Austen said that for the role, he plans to draw on his past experience of dealing with people from past jobs before he became involved in acting.

“I haven't needed to do much research for this role. I was a bartender for a time in Australia, so I already have some experience with all the skills required,” he explained. “I'm also Australian, so I'm very used to dealing with drunk people. While the character is very different to me, it's very close to what I am used to seeing back home. Jo is just very crabby and has little patience for the people around him.”

Austen comes to the role after playing Percinet, the lead character in the touring production of the play “The Romantics,” described by producers as a comedic love letter to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet." He also recently appeared in a touring production of “Richard III,” and “Twelfth Night,” by Hyperactive Studios.

Austen also stars in the upcoming film comedies “The Man Who Heard Root,” and “Nick Nack Paddywack.”

For more information, follow Austen on IMDB, Facebook and Instagram.