Steve Carell signs to 'Brigadier Gerard'

Rex Features

Steve Carell has signed up to appear in Napoleonic Wars comedy Brigadier Gerard.

The period film is based on a series of short stories about Etienne Gerard written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

King Of The Hill's John Altshuler and David Krinsky will pen the project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Carell's character is a hapless soldier who is deluded about his own swordsman skills. The role would be similar to the actor's characters in The Office and Get Smart.