Vince Vaughn is set to star in an untitled David O. Russell-directed and -written comedy for Universal Pictures. Studio-based Mandalay Pictures, Gregory Goodman and Russell are producing.

Vaughn will play the wiseass host of a radio call-in show he runs with his producer girlfriend. His life is turned upside down when he starts taking on the qualities of his neurotic callers. Russell wrote the current draft of the screenplay, which is based on a screenplay by David Cohen and Tony Lord.

An early fall start date is being eyed.

As opposed to some of Russell's more quirky and independent fare, the movie is designed to be a big, commercial comedy with his "sensibilities," Russell said.

Russell initially took on the project as a rewrite job but decided to direct it.

"I was so tickled by it, I thought, Gee, maybe it would be fun to make this," he said.

Russell, who met Vaughn for the first time at the Festival de Cannes in 1996 when the director was promoting his "Flirting With Disaster," said the actor follows in the tradition of a certain type of humor.

"There's Walter Matthau, there's Bill Murray and there's Vince Vaughn. I think it's a certain lineage of comedians," Russell said. "The guys are funny being who they are. They don't put on some kind of broad character, usually. It's very natural, it's very authentic. It's maybe a little bit depressed, but in their depression or their groundedness, they're funny. It's not like they're a drag to be around; they're funny in their depression in some way. I would say Vince is a bit more manically entertaining."

Russell said that the movie has roles for two female comedians as well as a female "discovery role."

Universal's Mary Parent, vice chairman of worldwide production, and Damien Saccani, vp production, will oversee the picture for the studio. Mandalay executive vp Elizabeth Stephen will oversee for the company.

This is the second project Vaughn has set up at Universal. He is starring in "The Break Up" with Jennifer Aniston, which is slated to begin shooting in June. Vaughn is repped by UTA and Eric Gold of Mosaic Media Group.

Vaughn stars in New Line's upcoming summer release "The Wedding Crashers."

Endeavor-repped Russell most recently wrote and directed "I § Huckabees." He also rewrote and directed "Three Kings" and wrote and directed "Spanking the Monkey."