Sean Astin will wade into the seamy world of office politics in “Demoted.”

The actor, who played Samwise Gamgee in the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy, has signed on to star in the indie comedy, joining previously announced cast members Michael Vartan (“Alias”) and David Cross (“Arrested Development”).

Astin and Vartan will play two tire salesmen who enjoy playing practical jokes on their co-worker (Cross), until the victim unexpectedly becomes their boss. The duo get their comeuppance as they are relegated to secretarial jobs, which drives them to plot their revenge.

Besides Astin, Celia Weston and Sara Foster have also been added to the cast.

Longtime character actress Weston will play the secretary who helps the pair in their revenge plot, while Foster (“The Big Bounce”) will play the wife of Astin’s character, who is tricked into believing her husband has actually been promoted.

J.B. Rogers, whose previous credits include “American Pie 2,” will direct.

The movie begins shooting next month in Michigan.

Astin, 37, is currently working on the comedy “Stay Cool” opposite Winona Ryder and next appears in the sports drama “Forever Strong,” which is slated for release next month.

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A hobbit is about to infiltrate the cast of Fox’s “24.”

Sean Astin, best known as the hobbit Sam from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, will join the cast of the TV drama in time for season five.

Reuters reports Astin, 34, will play a new addition to the Counter Terrorist Unit in the real-time TV drama series.

The fifth season will premiere with two episodes on January 8, 2006 and two more on January 9. The episodes will run from 8-10 p.m.

On January 16, the fifth “hour” of “24″ will air in the show’s regular 9 p.m. Monday slot.

The series picks up 18 months after the final episode of season four, leaving Keifer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer presumed dead, but actually living a new life with a new love interest and her son.

Astin has been working non-stop since The Lord of the Rings wrapped in 2003 – he currently has six films in production, most notably Click, with Christopher Walken and Adam Sandler, and the animated movie Cat Tale.

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