LOS ANGELES -- Dickens is going digital.

Director Robert Zemeckis' next 3D motion-capture movie will be an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey.

The superstar comedian has signed to portray Ebenezer Scrooge at various ages of his life, as well as the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Producer Steve Starkey confirms conceptual work on Carol is underway and hints at what audiences can expect from the film, which Disney will release in November 2009.

"The paintings I've seen (in the production offices) are very much like a Turner painting from the middle of the 19th century. That's what London's going to look like. Those are the things (we can do with mo-cap technology).

"Not only can we paint it with the same brush as Turner, but we can re-build London ... and recreate the exact London of the time of Scrooge. I swear, I went on a location scout (in London) and nothing exists from that time. It's all new. There are a few alleyways and a tavern here or there, but basically, you'd have to rebuild the whole city to shoot it."

Bob Hoskins, who starred for Zemeckis in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, is also rumoured to be involved in the project.