'Fletch' reboot gets a writer

By Adnan Tezer May 23, 2011, 19:04 GMT

David Mandel is in talks to write the screenplay for Warner Bros.' reboot of "Fletch."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mandel is one of the writers and producers on Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming comedy "The Dictator."

Mandel was a writer-producer on "Seinfeld" and also worked with series co-creator Larry David as an executive producer and director on David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Warner Bros. picked up the film rights in February to the Gregory McDonald 11-book "Fletch" mystery series in an attempt to reboot the popular 80s franchise.

Anonymous Content's Steve Golin and Michael Sugar are producing along with David List, the manager of McDonald's estate.

No director or lead actor is attached yet.

The books, the first of which was published in 1974, center on a wisecracking newspaper reporter named Irwin M. Fletcher writing under the byline of Jane Doe, who juggles writing exposes and solving mysteries while dealing with the problems caused by his two ex-wives.

McDonald optioned the "Fletch" books in the 1970s and retained the right of approving the actor cast to play Fletch. After rejecting Burt Reynolds and Mick Jagger, he agreed to Chevy Chase.

Universal produced the 1985 comedy "Fletch" starring Chase in what would become arguably his most iconic and quoted role.

The screenplay was written by Andrew Bergman and directed by Michael Ritchie.

A sequel, "Fletch Lives," followed four years later.

While at Miramax, Harvey Weinstein tried in vain for over a decade to get an adaptation of McDonald's "Fletch Won" made with Kevin Smith directing and such names as Ben Affleck, Jason Lee and Joshua Jackson in talks to play Fletch.

"Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence also attempted to get a "Fletch" reboot off the ground with Zach Braff in the title role, but that also stalled out and died.