Steve Carell to star in The Priority List

Steve Carell is set to star in and produce ‘The Priority List’.

The drama, which is based on the memoir of David Menasche, tells the story of a Miami high school teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and told he has just months to live.

Menasche was diagnosed in 2006 but managed to prolong his life – and his career – through chemotherapy.

The educator – who is still alive – suffered a seizure in 2012 which ended his teaching career, but Menasche was undeterred and opted to travel across the country in a soul-searching journey.

He reconnected with pupils he had taught over his 15 years in education and at the same time, came to terms with his illness.

Menasche’s memoir ‘The Priority List: A Teacher’s Final Quest to Discover Life’s Greatest Lessons’ was released in January 2014 and the movie rights were quickly snapped up by Warner Bros, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Carell will produce the movie through his Carousel Productions company along with collaborators Charlie Hartsock and Vance DeGeneres.

The 51-year-old funnyman was recently seen in ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ and also provided the voice of Gru in the Oscar-nominated ‘Despicable Me 2’ last year.

His next film is Disney’s ‘Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’, which will co-star Jennifer Garner.