Liam Neeson has signed up for 'The Nut Job'.

The 60-year-old star will lend his voice to the role of a villainous raccoon in the animated feature alongside a star-studded cast including Katherine Heigl, Sarah Gadon, Brendan Fraser and Jeff Dunham.

Director Peter Lepeniotis said: ''Having the distinguished Liam Neeson lend his talents as the raccoon villain is the perfect finishing touch. His contribution fulfills that dramatic need in our comedy adventure. It's an honour working with him.''

The movie will tell the story of a bad tempered squirrel called Surly - who will be voiced by Will Arnett - who is banished from his park and has to make his way in the big city, where he plans to rob a nut store with his friends to keep them alive as winter approaches.

Graham Moloy and Thom Chapman will produce the motion picture - which is based on a 2005 comedy short film called 'Surly Squirrel' - and Daniel Woo, Hong Kim, Mike Karz and Tom Yoon are to executive produce.

'The Nut Job' is currently in production with plans for a 2013 release.

Liam is due to star in drama movie 'The Third Person' alongside Mila Kunis, James Franco and Olivia Wilde, and he is also lending his voice to animated film 'Khumba', in which he will play Phango the Leopard.