Shrek director Andrew Adamson has lined his next film to follow on from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. And while this time he won’t be flitting off to a fantastical land, he will be sticking with the themes of literature and kids, locking in Hugh Laurie to play the main character in Mister Pip.
Adamson has adapted Lloyd Jones’ novel and has been planning to direct it for a while now. He’s snagged the support of Focus Features and locked in a budget to start shooting next month.
Laurie, usually to be found mocking his team as Dr Gregory House on the medical drama series, will play Mr Watts, the last white man left on the war-ravaged island of Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea. To help the local kids, he opens a school and starts reading his favourite book – Great Expectations – to the students.
The experience bonds them all together and gives them perspective on their tough lives. At least, that’s the plan…
Laurie will jet off to New Zealand for the shoot, and Mister Pip will slot into his release schedule behind dysfunctional romance drama The Oranges and Aardman/Sony CG ‘toon Arthur Christmas.