The makers of the film, City Of Ember, confirmed that Murray has signed up to play the mayor of Ember, an underground city facing power shortages.

The film, which has strong environmental overtones, will begin filming later this summer at a disused Harland & Wolff hangar and is expected to be the most expensive film ever made in Northern Ireland.

The movie is adapted from a best-selling children's science fiction novel about an underground city powered by a rapidly fading generator.

Murray, who starred in Lost In Translation and Groundhog Day, will play an eccentric mayor trying to save the city, while Toby Jones, who played Truman Capote in Infamous, will play his assistant.

Two teenagers must hunt for clues that will save the city, while also uncovering the secrets of the city's history.

The production company, Playtone Productions, is owned by Tom Hanks. He has signed on director Gil Kenan, best known for Monster House.

Film production companies have already auditioned in Belfast for extras - especially pale, athletic people with "interesting" faces and also female jockeys, men with prosthetic limbs and people involved in "free running" - an exercise that mixes gymnastics with athletics.

Filming will continue from July to October and the film is expected to be released in October, 2008.