McGregor joins Carrey in I Love You Philip Morris

Washington (ANI): Ewan McGregor will be falling in love with none other than Jim Carrey in the dark comedy 'I Love You Philip Morris". Carrey signed on in the fall to star in the movie, based on the real-life story of Steve Russell that was put down in paper in a book by Houston Chronicle crime reporter Steve McVicker. Russell, a father, fell in love with his cellmate Philip Morris when he landed in prison.

So strong was this love that it motivated Russell to escape from prison four times, once by using a green pen and bucket of water to change his prison outfit into what appeared to be surgical scrubs, another time by faking his death from AIDS and signing his own death certificate. Morris was eventually released, but Russell's escapades got him a 144-year sentence.

The pic will mark the directing debut of "Bad Santa" scribes Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. The duo has also penned the script, reports Variety. Mad Chance's Andrew Lazar is producing the pic Far Shariat. Luc Besson's is on as executive producer with his EuropaCorp fully financing the movie. Production will begin in spring, once Carrey completes starring in "A Christmas Carol."