Fox moves forward with adaptation

Story centers on Lemuel Gulliver, a free-spirited travel writer who, on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious, yet tiny, people.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" helmer Nicholas Stoller and Joe Stillman ("Shrek") penned the screenplay.

Fox has kept development of the project under wraps -- a common practice with public domain-based material -- even though Letterman has been attached to helm for some time. But the studio quickly greenlit the film once Black committed. Shooting will start in March; locations are still being set.

Fox-based John Davis is producing alongside Black's Electric Dynamite shingle and Ben Cooley, Black's partner at the shingle.

Swift's 1726 novel has spawned a number of bigscreen and smallscreen projects, including a 1996 miniseries starring Ted Danson.

Jack Black, who will next be seen in Judd Apatow-produced comedy "The Year One," is aboard to topline sequels to "School of Rock" for Paramount and "Kung Fu Panda" for DreamWorks Animation.

Letterman and Conrad Vernon will direct "Monsters vs. Aliens" for DreamWorks Animation.