The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss is to star in his own adaptation of HG Wells's science fiction comedy thriller The First Men in the Moon for BBC4.

Gatiss will appear alongside Waking the Dead and Silent Witness actor Rory Kinnear as one of two men who journey to the moon in 1909.

Kinnear plays Julius Bedford, a young man who meets scientist Professor Cavor, played by Gatiss. The pair use Cavor's invention, Cavorite, to help them defy gravity and fly to the centre of the moon.

The First Men in the Moon is the first drama commission for Gatiss and director Damon Thomas's independent production company, Can Do.

Thomas and Gatiss previously worked together on Antarctic drama The Worst Journey in the World and ghost story serial Crooked House for BBC4 last Christmas.

Gatiss, who has also written two episodes of Doctor Who, said: "I'm completely delighted to have the chance to bring this wonderful, funny, charming and scary story to BBC4. It's very rare to be able to adapt a genius like HG Wells for the small screen and we hope to do full justice to his extraordinary vision."

BBC4 controller Richard Klein added: "The First Men in the Moon is a thoroughly modern classic, a witty and satirical piece of writing by one of Britain's foremost and original science fiction writers.

"It shines a light on man's natural desire to always get it wrong. I am delighted that Mark Gatiss has decided to bring this forgotten and yet wholly timely work to our screens."

The First Men in the Moon was commissioned by Klein and BBC drama commissioning controller Ben Stephenson. The BBC's executive producer is Jamie Laurenson.

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