Gervais to direct Fiennes in comedy

LONDON, April 13 (UPI) -- British actor Ralph Fiennes is set to star in "The Men at the Pru," a big-screen comedy co-written and co-directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Gervais and Merchant created the iconic British TV comedies "The Office" and "Extras." "Pru" will mark their feature film writing and directorial debut.

Contactmusic.com said Fiennes, the star of "Schindler's List" and "The English Patient," has been cast in an as-yet-unnamed part in "Pru," which is set in the 1970s and is to start shooting this year.