‘Dead Rising’ film has its lead: former ‘Daily Show’ war correspondent Rob Riggle

Comedian Rob Riggle is probably best known for his work as a Daily Show correspondent through 2008, as well as his various film and TV cameos (21 Jump Street, The Other Guys, NTSF:SD:SUV). And now he’s playing lead for the upcoming video game adaptation Dead Rising: Watchtower. Here’s the official synopsis:

Dead Rising: Watchtower takes place during a large-scale zombie outbreak. When a mandatory government vaccine fails to stop the infection from spreading, the four leads must evade infection while also pursuing the root of the epidemic, with all signs pointing to a government conspiracy. Politics, public paranoia, and media coverage play an important role in the story’s narrative.

Riggle will play photojournalist and oddball-weapon-creation-enthusiast Frank West, who was the main character in Capcom’s original Dead Rising film. The movie — which will not play in theaters and instead debut on Sony’s Crackle service — is written by Tim Carter (Mortal Kombat: Legacy).

In addition to performer, Riggle was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He’s served in Liberia, Kosovoa, and Afghanistan. He also went to Iraq in 2007 to file field segments for The Daily Show as well as entertain troops for USO. So for those who know Dead Rising already, let’s just make the joke together: he’s covered wars, you know.

And now, the best of Riggle’s Daily Show tenure as presented by then-correspondent-now-HBO-satirist John Oliver.