Dennis Quaid has carved out a career playing mostly nice guys, including the pooch-loving main character in "A Dog's Purpose" and its sequel, "A Dog's Journey" and the dad in "The Parent Trap."

But he'll be playing a mean-spirited motel owner who holds a tiger captive in the upcoming film "The Tiger Rising."

It's based on the Kate DiCamillo’s 2001 best-selling children’s book of the same name about a shy 12-year-old boy named Rob who becomes fascinated with the caged Bengal tiger.

Queen Latifah plays a "mysterious maid" in the film and and Madalen Mills ("Jingle Jangle") will portray the girl who befriends Rob.

Ray Giarratana, the visual FX director on films  including "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," is directing.

Earlier this year, Quaid played a deranged  homeowner "The Intruder," who stalks the couple who's just bought his house. So we're a little less inclined to buy insurance from him these days.  (He's currently starring in ads for Esurance).

[Via Variety]