Director Kevin Smith and British actor James Purefoy have joined the cast of the Showtime comedy pilot “Manchild.”

The project, based on a BBC series, revolves around a group of fortysomething male friends (Smith, Purefoy,John Corbett, Paul Hipp) who are knee-deep in midlife crises.

Smith will play Paul, the cynic of the group, an angry divorced guy who loathes himself, his ex and his ex’s perfect new husband.

Purefoy will play Joe, the ad hoc leader of his circle of pals. He is attractive, polished, virile and wealthy, goes to the hottest new clubs and doesn’t date anyone over 25.

If “Manchild” goes to series, it will mark Smith’s first regular primetime gig. He executive produced ABC’s short-lived animated series “Clerks,” based on his critically acclaimed indie feature. Onscreen, Smith is best known as Silent Bob, a character he has played in most of his movies, most recently in “Clerks II.”

Purefoy stars as Mark Anthony on the HBO series “Rome,” which is wrapping production on its second and final season. His feature credits include “Vanity Fair,” “Resident Evil” and “A Knight’s Tale.”