The word from Cannes is that Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville is set to star in Shoreline Entertainment’s reworking of the Captain Nemo character, under the direction of Pearry Teo (Witchville in China).

Last seen jumping the shark in Stephen Norrington’s infamous (but unconnected) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Captain Nemo will team up with President Ulysses Grant to challenge the evil genius responsible for numerous naval disasters in a unofficial steampunked sequel to Jules Verne’s classic novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

Teo will reteam with producer Amy Krell for the project, the two having previously worked together for the SyFy Channel. Shoreline Entertainment’s founder and CEO Morris Ruskin will executive produce alongside Asia Bridge’s Steve Chicorel.

Titled Captain Nemo, and set for a 3D release, this is not the only vehicle for the character on the horizon, with David Fincher flirting with an adaptation of the original novel for Disney.