Seann William Scott, who starred in the recent television remake of Lethal Weapon, looks set to play the role of the local priest in the American pilot of BBC hit This Country.

According to Deadline Scott will play Father Joe in the Fox pilot, "a recent transplant from Minneapolis who is doing the best he can with what he’s got. Father Joe is a community leader in the Ohio town of Flatch and a father figure to Shrub and Kelly."

Shrub and Kelly are the American versions of Cotswold cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe, played in the BBC version by the show's creators real-life siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper.

In the original BBC version long-suffering mild-mannered soft touch Reverend Francis Seaton is played by Paul Chahidi.

Scott also played Steve Stifler in the American Pie films.

Picture: Scott in Lethal Weapon with co-star Damon Wayans (Fox)