Ricky Gervais is to voice the character of Mole in a new live-action/animatronic version of The Wind in the Willows. Directed by Ray Griggs, whose previous credits include a superhero comedy called Super Capers and a documentary titled I Want Your Money (both unreleased in the UK), the latest adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's pastoral classic will be penned by Bill Marsilii, who wrote time-travelling crime-solving Denzel Washington vehicle Deja Vu.

"It's a natural fit to have an iconic British actor star in an iconic British tale," Griggs said. "I had Ricky in mind for this role from the inception of this project." Mole is the peaceable home-lover whose boredom with his spring cleaning triggers an adventure with Badger, Ratty and Toad. Other casting has yet to be announced.

Pre-production will begin in New Zealand, where Griggs will be working with Peter Jackson's visual effects company, Weta.

Grahame's story, first published in 1908, has made it to the big screen several times – as part of 1949 Disney double-header The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad; in the much-loved 1983 Cosgrove Hall film featuring the voices of David Jason, Ian Carmichael and Michael Hordern; and in a live-action version directed by Terry Jones in 1996.