Gervais's 'Flanimals' flock to big screen

LOS ANGELES, April 29 (UPI) -- British comedian Ricky Gervais's "Flanimals" children's books are to be adapted as a 3-D animated feature film, Variety.com said.

Gervais, the co-creator and star of the British comedy series "The Office" and "Extras," is to be the executive producer of "Flanimals" and lend his voice to the lead character, an unlikely hero who sets out to change the world.

Like the books, the movie will be about a species of creatures "so ugly and misshapen they become cute and endearing," Variety.com said.

"It will be great to play a short, fat, sweaty loser for a change," Gervais quipped. "A real stretch."