According to Variety, the Scottish actor will be starring alongside Carrey in this black comedy. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who wrote the screenplay for Bad Santa, will be making their directorial debuts.
Carrey will be playing Steven Russell, a married man sent to prison for theft and fraud. He falls in love with his cell mate Phillip Morris, played by McGregor.
Russell’s love for Morris pushes him to try to escape after Morris is freed. His attempts caused his sentence to be lengthened to 144 years in prison.
The movie was based on the real life story of Steve Russell written by Houston Chronicle journalist, Steve McVicker.
Carrey will finish filming the movie A Christmas Carol by Robert Zemeckis and sometime in the spring will begin filming I Love You Phillip Morris.