Even though it's one of the most widely-adapted books of all time – spawning cartoons, radio plays, French turn of the century silent films, strange Russian pro-Communist puppetry adaptations and mid-1990s Ted Danson vehicles to name but a few – you could argue that nobody has ever been able to fully capture the spirit of Jonathan Swift's sprawling 1726 masterpiece Gulliver's Travels. Either the political invective is traded for hollow spectacle, or Gulliver's rudderless descent into misanthropy is glossed over or, as is often the case, the last three quarters of the book are dismissed entirely.

But fear no more, because this Christmas Jack Black will once and for all become the definitive Lemuel Gulliver. Yes, he might be primarily known for shouting and waggling his slapstick eyebrows around, but that's all going to change once audiences see the ease in which he inhabits the role of an 18th-century British ship's surgeon. The trailer for Gulliver's Travels was released late last week, so let's take a look at Black in all his period pomp.

My mistake. It looks like this isn't going to be a period adaptation of Gulliver's Travels after all. Still, no matter, the setting is irrelevant. What's important is that we get to see Jack Black stretching his acting muscles for once and not simply playing a tired version of himself like usual.

Admittedly from this image it does actually look like Black will be playing a version of himself, but it's hard to tell out of context. Yes, he's staring at his fingers in a deliberately intense way and, yes, his eyebrows are going haywire, but maybe this is simply to realistically demonstrate the essence of Lemuel Gulliver in a modern setting. After all, it's hardly like he's playing Guitar Hero or anything, is it?

Really? Guitar Hero? Really? Honestly, what's the point of even calling the film Gulliver's Travels if you're going to shoehorn a Guitar Hero scene into it? Why not just rename it Jack Black Pulls Faces At Midgets? This trailer had better get considerably more Gullivery right now, or else there's going to be trouble.

Oh, this is more like it. This is iconic Gulliver's Travels stuff. Excellent. Jack Black has washed up on Lilliput, which means he's about to witness a classic dose of sharply-observed Swiftian satire that'll hone in on the petty distractions and theological Anglican quarrels of early Georgian government with merciless accuracy. Just you watch.

See? Things are really starting to look up now. There's Billy Connolly playing the ruler of Lilliput. He was in Mrs Brown, remember, so he'll easily be able to pull off the keenly-written George I cypher that Swift intended the character to be.

And there's Emily Blunt, who has become enviably well-versed in period pieces, having starred in the likes of Boudica, Henry VIII, The Young Victoria and one episode of Poirot. This adaptation of Gulliver's Travels looks like it'll have quite an impressive cast. Who'll be the next critically-acclaimed actor to turn up?

Oh, it's the swearing granny off the telly. Never mind. All the pieces are in place. Jack Black's driveless hero has been captured by the people of Lilliput and he's been hauled in front of the king. Finally, it's time to see the definitive Gulliver's Travels film. The film that, after 284 long years, will finally do justice to Jonathan Swift's satirical vision.

Or, you know, Jack Black could just pull a funny face and play table football with the inhabitants of Lilliput. Either one's fine. No, really.