Doctor Who star Matt Smith has landed the male lead in Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut, How to Catch a Monster.

The current incarnation of the Doctor is set to make his U.S. acting debut in the film, which stars Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks in the central role of Billy, and co-stars Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn and Rob Zabrecky.

Variety broke the news, writing of the project:

Story is set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city and centered on a single mother of two being swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town.

It’s unclear which role Smith will take, as the logline seems to suggest the male lead as that of the teenage son, who is probably a little too young for Smith to play. Regardless, we’re excited to see Smith, who has shown off his acting chops the last three seasons as the titular Doctor for BBC, branch out a bit.

Production on the film is currently slated to begin in the spring, while Smith is on hiatus from Doctor Who. The story sounds fascinating, and with Gosling behind the camera for the first time, and Smith in front of it for the first time on U.S. soil, we’re intrigued. Are you?