Steve Carell ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin", NBC's "The Office") is so eager to step into Maxwell Smart's shoe-phones that he's putting a big-screen remake of "Get Smart" ahead of the nearly half-dozen other projects begging for his attention reports MTV News.

"That's going to start in March. They're hiring production designers, and they're scouting locations. The main thrust of their thing right now is to try to figure out who will play 99. There's the Chief and 99 -- and there are a couple other [key] parts -- but those are the two main characters they want to cast right now" Carell says.

He added that he'll interpret the character as more of a tribute to original star Don Adams than a straight-out mimic of him.

Casting announcements are expected soon. Peter Segal ("The Longest Yard", "Anger Management", "50 First Dates") will direct the film and a Summer 2008 release looks on the cards.