On the heels of back-to-back appearances in studio comedies last year, John Lithgow has signed on to round out the cast of Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar," an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

Paramount and Nolan had no comment, while a representative for Lithgow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Paramount and Warner Bros are teaming on the epic sci-fi movie, which stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine and Mackenzie Foy, as well as Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, "Rachel Getting Married" star Bill Irwin and "Homeland" actor Timothee Chalamet, whose castings were first reported by TheWrap.

Story follows a heroic group of explorers who travel through a wormhole and into another dimension. Details of Lithgow's role are being kept in a vault on the third rock from the sun.

Jonah Nolan wrote the original script, which Chris then merged with one of his original sci-fi ideas. The director is also producing with Emma Thomas and Lynda Obst, while Jordan Goldberg will exec produce with Caltech physicist Kip Thorne, who serves as a technical consultant on the project.

Lithgow, who recently won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his villainous turn as the Trinity Killer on the fourth season of Showtime's "Dexter," was last seen playing Leslie Mann's estranged father in Judd Apatow's "This Is 40." He also co-starred in Jay Roach's political comedy "The Campaign" and will soon be seen in director Tommy Lee Jones' drama "The Homesman." Repped by WME and attorney Walter Teller, Lithgow has won a Tony and been nominated for two Oscars.