Animation director David Bowers is making his live action debut with Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules, the sequel to Fox 2000's sleeper hit Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris are returning as stars in the adaptation of the Jeff Kinney young adult novel series.

Thor Freudenthal directed the first movie but opted not to return for the second outing.

The sequel again focuses on put-upon kid Greg Heffley, who this time around must deal with the punishments inflicted by his older brother Roderick.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules is in pre-production readying for an August start in Vancouver and a March 2011 opening.