After his memorable appearances as key characters in such blockbuster movies as Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Mission Impossible, and after wrapping up his successful Cornetto Trilogy collaboration with Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright, with The World's End, what's next for Simon Pegg?

Well the comedian is now trying his hand at leading man territory. Simon Pegg is starring in Hector and the Search for Happiness, an adaptation of the French novel by the same name, written by Francis Lelord.

The Hector and the Search for Happiness trailer debuted UK and US versions, and from the looks of it, we can pretty much expect an uplifting and inspiring movie, in the mold of Ben Stiller's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Hector, the movie's main character is a psychiatrist who is stuck in a routine life. Hector is upset that he does not seem to be helping any of his patients. He then decides to go around the world in search for the secret to people's happiness, leaving behind his frustrated girlfriend (Rosamund Pike).

Along the way, The Hector and the Search for Happiness trailer shows us several characters that Hector will encounter. Among them: a billionaire (Stellan Skarsgård), an arms dealer (Jean Reno) and a professor (Christopher Plummer).

It's a classic journey of self-discovery, and the British actor lends his everyman appeal, plus his comic talents to a meaty role that is decidedly different from the zombie-killing/sci-fi/action roles that he is known for.

Hector and the Search for Happiness is directed by Peter Chelsom, who also helmed the romantic comedies Serendipity and Shall We Dance. The film also stars Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette, Stellan Skarsgård, Jean Reno and Christopher Plummer.

The movie will premiere exclusively at the Toronto Film Festival on September 7, and will hit both New York and Los Angeles on September 19. Its worldwide release date is set for October 3.

Watch Hector and the Search for Happiness trailer here: