Hugh Laurie eyes villain role opposite Clooney in Tomorrowland

Hugh Laurie is reportedly in line to star opposite George Clooney in his forthcoming film 'Tomorrowland'.

The 'House' star is said to be in negotiations to play the film's antagonist.

[Related story: Matt Damon joins Clooney's all-star thriller]

Laurie... to star opposite Clooney in Tomorrowland? (Copyright: Rex)

The sci-fi project, which is being made by Disney and is shrouded in secrecy, is being directed by Brad Bird and has been written by 'Lost' co-creator Damon Lindelof.

So far nothing other than the name – it was previously being called '1952' – and a cryptic Twitter photo have been revealed.

1952... mysterious box found in Walt Disney's lab (Copyright: Twitter/@BradBirdA113)

The photo, posted by 'Mission: Impossible' and 'The Incredibles' director Bird, appeared to be a box, which was labeled '1952', that Lindelof stumbled upon after being given access to Walt Disney's personal development lab.

It's thought that the contents of the box have formed the basis of the story, which is said to be a 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'-style sci-fi about the search for extra-terrestrials.

Tomorrowland is also the name of one of the first theme lands that Disney created when Disneyland launched in 1955, though it's not known yet whether it might be related.