Steve Carell personally asked Jim Carrey to star in new film

Los Angeles: Funnyman Jim Carrey signed up to appear in new movie `The Incredible Burt Wonderstone` after the film`s lead Steve Carell personally called him about the role.

The `40 Year Old Virgin` star Carell portrays a flamboyant Las Vegas magician in the comedy, and he had Carrey, 51, in mind for the part of his onscreen rival Steve Gray, a daring street performer, reported MTV online. "Well you know, it was really about my friend Steve Carell calling up and saying, `You want to jump in and have some fun?` Pressure`s off me man. I was just having a blast in this thing. "And also just the idea of a character that is a Svengali guy, who basically is denying his desire for the material things of life - trying to undermine everyone`s confidence and stuff like that. So I love that character," Carrey said. Carell added, "When we got the script and we were talking about Steve Gray, we sent the script (to Carrey). I didn`t think for a second that Jim would want to do it, and then he did, and it was the best day ever." PTI