If you don’t know who Russell Brand is yet, it is time for that YouTube search. The man is rock-star level famous over the pond, in Britain, but barely known in the states. He is in talks to star in a remake of the 1981 film, Arthur and, if involved, will take a role in the screenwriting room as well.

The original Arthur is a film that follows a slacker set to inherit a ton of money… if he marries the woman his parents have picked out for him. He proposes to the woman but then meets another he believes he could truly fall in love with. The original film stared Dudley Moore and was nominated for four Oscars and won two: for best supporting actor and best original song.

Press Association reports that Russell Brand has been voted (out of a survey of 3,000) people, the least popular comedian in England. So, I say to the British “Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free.” If you don’t want him, bring that crazy man over here! Brand is better known for his shenanigans off camera, than for his brilliant comedic timing. He is a former drug addict who is quite open about his drug use (see this example). Although he doesn’t use drugs anymore, he was recently fired from/quit his radio show on the BBC due to a controversy involving an on-air prank. He also has his own show called Ponderland that mainly consists of him doing stand up. He was introduced to us, stateside, in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. After that he hosted the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Brand is in the upcoming Adam Sandler film, Bedtime Stories.