Stephen Root – one of Empire’s favourite supporting actors – will boost two new movies by at least 27%, after signing on to co-star in Robert Redford’s The Conspirator and the Ed Helms comedy, Cedar Rapids.

Root – so good in the likes of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Office Space and O Brother Where Art Thou? (he’s the blind guy who runs the radio station) – will play an insurance company boss in Cedar Rapids, the Miguel Arteta comedy in which Helms plays an insurance salesman who tries to save the jobs of his co-workers.

Then he’ll put on his serious face and head over to The Conspirator, Robert Redford’s tale of the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Root will play a principal witness in the trial of Robin Wright Penn’s Confederate sympathiser. James McAvoy also stars.

Nice one, Stephen - we're Rooting for ya, buddy! (Sorry about that one - Ed.)