Simon Pegg has signed on to star in the dark comedy A Fantastic Fear of Everything. Here's the synopsis:

Jack (Simon Pegg) is a children’s author turned crime novelist whose detailed research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, persecuted by the irrational fear of being murdered. When Jack is thrown a life-line by his long-suffering agent and a mysterious Hollywood executive takes a sudden and inexplicable interest in his script, what should be his ‘big break’ rapidly turns into his ‘big breakdown’, as Jack is forced to confront his worst demons; among them his love life, his laundry and the origin of all fear.

I definitely like the dichotomy of children's author/crime novelist and it sounds like Pegg could have some fun with the role, although I don't know how dark the comedy will be based solely off the logline. Alan Drake, Amara Karan, Clare Higgins and Sheridan Smith are on board to co-star.  Crispian Mills will direct from his own script alongside Chris Hopewell.  A Fantastic Fear of Everything is currently shooting at Shepperton and is part of Pinewood Studios' new initiative to support low-budget British films. [Update: We've added a much longer synopsis after the jump along with the press release.]

Here's an in-depth plot synopsis from the production company's website [via The Playlist]:

Jack is alone for Christmas. A former children’s author, now turned crime novelist, Jack spends his nights pacing about, entrenched in his latest script ‘Decades of Death’ with only his gruesome research into Victorian serial killers for company.

A sensitive artist, who lacks even the simple courage to buy his own toilet paper, this research into all the most notorious hackers and poisoners of the late 19th century has made him paranoid and insomniac. Jack starts carrying a carving knife around with him due to ‘an irrational fear of being murdered’ and begins to suspect everybody he meets, from the waiter in the restaurant, to the newspaper vendor, to the friendly local ASBO hoodies. But when Jack is thrown a life-line by his long-suffering agent and a mysterious Hollywood executive takes a sudden and inexplicable interest in his script, what should be his ‘big break’ rapidly turns into his ‘big breakdown’, as Jack is forced to confront his worst fears; among them, love, laundry, and, serial killers.

It’s because of his agent’s unprecedented request that he ‘look smart’ for the big meeting, that Jack’s career now rests precariously on his ability to tackle his irrational fear of launderettes. However, Jack soon has to deal with far more than the simple embarrassment of exposing his own soiled load in public. Harangued by the ghost of his ex-wife, and guided by the sage-like counsel of his psychotherapist (who once cured a girl of her phobia of open bananas), Jack makes his fateful ‘trip downtown’, taking him through the shadowy dystopia of a modern Noir London and onto the bright neon lights of the Lotus Laundromat, where his inability to operate a washing machine, (and the unfortunate fact that he’s still carrying a carving knife), triggers a series of unexpected events bringing him face to face with real danger, real crime, real fear, and even reality TV; involving an encounter with the most beautiful girl in London, a highly embarrassing personal injury, a bruising encounter with the strong arm of the law, and ultimately an unexpected fight for his life at the hands of a real serial killer…

And here's the press release:

INDOMINA EMBRACES "FEAR"

The Indomina Group, Universal Pictures and Pinewood Studios Group Pact on Financing and Distribution for New Comedy “A Fantastic Fear of Everything”

Los Angeles, CA / London, England – July 27, 2011 – It was announced today that The Indomina Group, the fast-growing U.S. and Dominican Republic based producer and distributor of film, TV and transmedia content, has acquired North American Distribution rights to the comedy “A Fantastic Fear of Everything” starring Simon Pegg (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”) and produced by Keel Films. The announcement was made by Indomina Group Vice Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann.

Currently being shot at Shepperton Studios in London, the film will be released in the U.S. through Indomina’s North American distribution division, Indomina Releasing. Universal Pictures will release the film in the UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America. Indomina’s international sales division will handle sales for all other territories. Indomina is also providing production financing.

“A Fantastic Fear of Everything” is written and directed by musician-turned-filmmaker Crispian Mills, marking his feature debut. He is joined by co-director and animator Chris Hopewell as part of a collaboration with Collision Films, whose award-winning work includes Radiohead’s There There and The Killers’ Smile Like You Mean It.  The film is produced by Geraldine Patten.

In the film, Jack (Simon Pegg) is a children’s author turned crime novelist whose detailed research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, persecuted by the irrational fear of being murdered. When Jack is thrown a life-line by his long-suffering agent and a mysterious Hollywood executive takes a sudden and inexplicable interest in his script, what should be his ‘big break’ rapidly turns into his ‘big breakdown’, as Jack is forced to confront his worst demons; among them his love life, his laundry and the origin of all fear.

Starring Simon Pegg as Jack, and introducing Alan Drake, A Fantastic Fear of Everything also stars Amara Karan (The Darjeeling Limited), Clare Higgins (Hellraiser) and Sheridan Smith (Hysteria).

“A Fantastic Fear of Everything” is the first film to receive backing from ‘Pinewood Films’ - a new finance initiative for small budget independent British films by the Pinewood Studios Group.