What's the first thing you do when you wrap the most popular television show on the planet? You sign on to play an evil corporate head in a big budget Hollywood remake. That's what you do.

Hugh Laurie, 53, has just agreed to play the CEO of Omni Corp in the remake of 1987's "RoboCop."And while audiences are well accustomed to Laurie playing a grump, they may be surprised to see him as someone who is evil-to-the-core.

First played by Oscar-nominated Irish actor Daniel O'Herlihy, the evil CEO role will yet again belong to a U.K.-born actor. (Laurie is from Oxford, England.)

[Related: Hugh Laurie bio on Yahoo! TV]

Laurie's long-running television show "House," also the name of his dark-yet-brilliant lead character, ended in May. The show, watched by 81.8 million people in 66 countries, becoming the most-watched television program in the world in 2008, won five Emmys during its eight-year run and earned Laurie two Golden Globes, two SAG awards, and other awards except for an Emmy for his performance. (Perhaps he will finally pick up his Emmy this year -- this is his one last chance!)

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"RoboCop" is due in theaters next year and has an approximate budget of $100 million.

The role of the infamous cyborg RoboCop, first made famous by Peter Weller in the film franchise that endured through the early '90s and even spawned a television series, will be played by Swedish-born actor Joel Kinnaman -- who currently stars in AMC's "The Killing."

[Related: 1987's 'RoboCop' movie details]

Oscar-nominated actors Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson have also signed on to the film as has Abbie Cornish. Oldman plays the scientist who creates RoboCop, Norton, Jackson plays a media mogul (we hear he's a good guy) and Cornish plays Norton's wife.

Laurie also stars in war drama "Mr. Pip," based on a best-selling novel of the same name. Its release date is not yet determined.