Funnyman Ben Stiller is to direct and star in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

The comedian was first linked to the lead part in the remake of the 1947 movie in April, but no director was attached to the project, so he is now set to take on both jobs, according to Variety.

The movie is based on the short story of the same name which was written by James Thurber and first published in 1939 in The New Yorker magazine. The original film starred Danny Kaye in the title role as well as Virginia Mayo and Boris Karloff and focused on Walter Mitty, a magazine proof-reader who is incapable of standing up for himself in the real world, so he retreats to a fantasy where he becomes his confident opposite, and daydreams that he is a fearless airplane pilot and a brilliant doctor.

The script will be written by Steve Conrad, best known for The Pursuit of Happyness and The Weatherman and shooting is due to commence next January.