Steve Zahn has signed on to star in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Fox 2000's adaptation of Jeff Kinney's novels, directed by Thor Freudenthal.

According to Variety, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are producing. Kinney exec produces; his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has sold more than 20 million copies. A pair of writing teams -- Jeff Filgo & Jackie Filgo and Jeff Judah & Gabe Sachs -- wrote the screenplay for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which follows a middle-school student during the course of a school year.

Zachary Gordon, who was tapped after a nine-month search, will play the title role, with Zahn and Rachael Harris portraying his parents. Robert Capron will portray his best friend, and Devon Bostick will play his brother.

No production date has been set.