After receiving his first Oscar nomination for his acclaimed performance in “Foxcatcher,” Steve Carell is signing on to star in Robert Zemeckis‘ feature adaptation of Jeff Malmberg’s 2010 documentary “Marwencol” at Universal Pictures, TheWrap has learned. Caroline Thompson (“Edward Scissorhands”) wrote the screenplay, which follows Mark Hogancamp, whose memory was wiped away by a vicious assault. He finds comfort in building a miniature village populated by dolls whose identities are very real to him, as their actions help him cope with what happened to him.

Zemeckis’ Universal-based banner ImageMovers will produce the film, which Malmberg will executive produce. Universal optioned Hogancamp’s life rights as well as the critically acclaimed documentary based on his life story.

Universal’s VP of production Maradith Frenkel and creative executive Chloe Yellin are overseeing the project on behalf of the studio.

Since leaving his beloved character of Michael Scott on NBC’s “The Office,” Carell has taken an impressive range of roles, balancing hit comedies (“Anchorman 2”) with smart indies (“The Way Way Back”) and acclaimed dramas (“Foxcatcher”). He’s currently filming Adam McKay‘s “The Big Short” alongside Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling and will soon be seen opposite Ellen Page and Julianne Moore in “Freeheld.”