John Michael Higgins has joined the cast of Cameron Crowe's family drama We Bought a Zoo.

We Bought a Zoo is based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, which follows a year in the life of a family as they try to save an old zoo from being destroyed. John Michael Higgins will play a zoo inspector with a uniquely loud stomach, who seems to have it in for Mee's character (Matt Damon). Along with trying to rebuild the zoo, Mee is also taking care of his cancer-stricken wife while dealing with the endangered animals and the volunteer workers who have come to help out.

Cameron Crowe is directing from his own script, which is adapted from Benjamin Mee's memoir. Production will start next week in Los Angeles.