After the boxoffice success of "Bad Santa," Billy Bob Thornton is prepping to add a new name to his resume: "Mr. Woodcock."

The actor has signed to star in the New Line Cinema comedy for helmer Craig Gillespie and Bob Cooper's Landscape Pictures. The script centers on a young man who returns to his hometown to stop his mother from marrying his old high school gym teacher (Thornton), who made life a living hell for him and many of his classmates.

Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert penned the screenplay. Cooper will produce, with Brian Inerfeld and Karen Lunder serving as co-producers. At the studio, executives Kent Alterman, Michele Weiss and Keith Goldberg are overseeing for production topper Toby Emmerich.

The role is the second high school-based project for Thornton this year. He recently finished a starring role in the football tale "Friday Night Lights" for Universal Pictures. He also will be seen in "Ice Harvest" for Focus Features. The multihyphenate also has the redo of "The Bad News Bears" for Paramount Pictures on his shooting schedule for this year.

He's repped by CAA and Geyer Kosinski's recently formed management and production company Media Talent Group.

Gillespie is repped by UTA.