Don Cheadle has joined the live-action DreamWorks film Hotel for Dogs. According to Variety, Emma Roberts is also signed to star in the project.

The screenplay, written by Jeff Lowell, is based on Lois Duncan's 1971 children's book of the same name. The story follows two teenaged orphans who decide to hide a bunch of stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. Cheadle will play a social worker that tries to keep the two teens out of trouble.

This will be Thor Freudenthal's directorial debut. The film begins shooting in early November for a late 2008 release date. Jon Gordon, Lauren Shuler Donner and Jack Leslie are on board to produce the feature.

Hotel for Dogs was released January 16th, 2009 and stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle, Johnny Simmons, Kyla Pratt, Troy Gentile, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon. The film is directed by Thor Freudenthal.