Hugh Laurie Lands 'Mr. Pip' Book-To-Film Starring Role

From curmudgeonly doctor to gentle volunteer teacher?

Hugh Laurie has been cast in the film adaptation of Lloyd Jones' 2006 book, "Mr. Pip," Deadline reports. Laurie will play the Mr. Watts, the only white man on a foreign island who volunteers to teach school as the natives defend their land from invaders. He reads the students Charles Dickens' classic novel, "Great Expectations," connecting especially with a 13-year old girl, Matilda.

Andrew Adamson, "Shrek" and "Chronicles of Narnia," will direct.

Laurie, a major British comedy star before coming to the United States, has done much of his recent big screen work in animated films. He provides for E.B.'s father in "Hop," and featured in "Monsters vs. Aliens." He had a supporting role in "Street Kings" with Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker in 2008.

For more, click over to Deadline.

Comments

[DearDanna]

09:42 PM on 04/18/2011

Hugh Laurie as Hamich in the film version of The Hunger Games! Keeping my fingers crossed.

[onwisconsin]

08:46 PM on 04/17/2011

My dad kept telling me to watch House and I kept telling him I had little time. I finally watched a couple of episodes one day when I had the flu. I've been a Hugh Laurie fan ever since.

[hauruck]

07:46 PM on 04/17/2011

Excellent!

[virgil weber]

04:04 PM on 04/17/2011

Hugh Laurie will always be BERTIE WOOSTER for me. simply amazing.

[abuja19]

05:39 PM on 04/16/2011

Cool!

[Bret Martineau]

02:59 PM on 04/16/2011

Hugh Laurie is a genius!

[TheSardonicAtheist]

09:31 PM on 04/15/2011

Hugh Laurie is my man crush. Dr. House in DA HOUSE

[inkongirl]

12:12 PM on 04/15/2011

Hugh Laurie is awesome! I'm looking forward to his new album.

[PathofTotality]

11:30 AM on 04/15/2011

Big fan of Mr. Laurie's. Good luck to you sir.

[Hank26]

01:15 AM on 04/15/2011

I'm going to marry this man some day!

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

12:44 AM on 04/17/2011

Can we work out some joint custody agreement, then? That's my plan, too!! ;)

[Hank26]

09:55 AM on 04/17/2011

Oh boy. I don't know. I plan on keeping him happy and satisfied. Don't think he'll be able to manage more than I'm gonna get out of him. I'd be glad to send you updates on how he's doing though, if that helps. :)

[sextonfan]

12:08 AM on 04/15/2011

Love Laurie

[iagodeotto]

11:57 PM on 04/14/2011

If I were to see Laurie as a character other than House I think my brain might explode. But I guess I'm up for that.

[mssreader]

08:46 PM on 04/16/2011

He's especially good with Stephen Fry available from netflix. They are a perfect comedy team. Jeaves and Reeves is wonderful and so many episodes.

[mssreader]

08:47 PM on 04/16/2011

OOps! That's Jeeves and Wooster.

[Flor Arellano]

11:52 PM on 04/14/2011

He was funny in the Man in the Iron Mask, dressed in all that 18th century French outfits. Such a wonderful actor!

[Marklar]

11:36 PM on 04/14/2011

What is so amazing about Hugh is that his character on House is a mad genius who treats everyone like crap...but in real life he is a mad genius who treats everyone with genuine kindness. Thanks for a great season, you are a class act...and thanks for the guitar!

[ltague]

08:27 PM on 04/14/2011

I can't wait! I love his curmudgeon character House, but I hope they let him use his British accent for the film. I've seen him as House so much, when he gives an interview I think he's faking the BRITISH accent!