Jim Carrey has put his name to a new comedy.

The actor will play a gay conman in I Love You Phillip Morris, which is set in a prison.

The film has been billed as a "dark comedy", adding substance to the reports that Carrey has had enough of his typical slapstick movies.

The film is yet to enter pre-production, and is based on real-life events from a book by journalist Steve McVicker.