JIM CARREY - CARREY AND EWAN TO PLAY LOVERS

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor will star as romantic leads in the upcoming dark comedy I Love You Philip Morris.

The directorial debut of Bad Santa writers Glenn Ficara and John Requa, the film tells the true story of Steven Russell, a married father sent to prison in Texas after his conman behaviour got the better of him.

While in jail he fell in love with his cellmate Morris, with his affection inspiring him to daring escape attempts.

He escaped from prison four times, once using a green pen and a bucket of water to dye his prison outfit into what resembled a set of surgical scrubs, while on another occasion he faked his own death from Aids before signing his own death certificate.

Morris was eventually released from jail but Russell's antics earned him a 144-year prison sentence.

Carrey will begin filming his role as Russell in the spring after completing performance capture work on Robert Zemeckis' upcoming A Christmas Carol, according to Variety.

McGregor recently filming opposite Hugh Jackman and Maggie Gyllenhaal for the 2008 thriller The List and will also star in heist caper Number 13 and with Daniel Craig in I, Lucifer.