Steve Carell to star in adaptation of 'I.Q. 83'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Steve Carell is set to star in a film adaptation of I.Q. 83.

The 52-year-old actor will portray protagonist Dr. James Healey. Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) will adapt the Arthur Herzog novel for the screen, with Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance and Walter Parkes as producers.

I.Q. 83 sees Healey and a group of scientists accidentally unleash a virus that lowers human I.Q. to 83. The virus becomes an epidemic, and Healey himself is infected. The scientist must race to find a cure before his mental deterioration is complete.

Carell will next appear as John du Pont in Foxcatcher on November 14. The film is based on real-life Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum), whose brother, Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), was shot and killed by sponsor du Pont.