'Fletch' lives as Lawrence, Braff scrub in
'Fletch' prequel's in the works
July 26, 2006
NEW YORK -- "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence is writing and directing a prequel to the '80s franchise "Fletch," and if he has his way, Zach Braff will star in the title role.
The Weinstein Co. has signed Lawrence to helm and adapt Gregory Mcdonald's 1985 comic-mystery novel "Fletch Won," which follows the irreverent detective from his early days as a ne'er-do-well junior newspaper reporter to his partnership with a crime reporter to solve a murder.
Mcdonald's best-sellers were brought to the screen in 1985's "Fletch" and 1989's "Fletch Lives," both starring Chevy Chase.
"Zach is perfect for the role," Lawrence said in an interview from his Los Angeles office, where Braff sat laughing in the background. "I'm going to use all my pull trying to make him do it." Filming is expected to start in April once the current season of "Scrubs" completes filming. No cast members have been signed yet.
It was Braff who helped bring Lawrence on board by suggesting his "Scrubs" executive producer to Harvey Weinstein, leading to talks between the pair over the past six months. "Zach knows I can recite the original 'Fletch' movie line for line," said Lawrence, who also has read all of Mcdonald's "Fletch" novels.
The director is well aware of the cult surrounding the books and films, which seems to weigh heavily on him. "My closest friends from high school don't care about my career," he said. "This is the only job I've ever gotten where every one of them said, 'Congratulations,' and then said, 'Don't fuck it up.' "
Lawrence plans to make his "Fletch" with a bit more edge. "There were definitely broader, sketchier parts in the earlier films," he said. "I'd compare this one more to 'Beverly Hills Cop,' where there was a sense of real jeopardy. Like 'Batman Begins,' I (also) think people will enjoy seeing how Irwin Fletcher became Fletch."
Weinstein co-president of production Michael Cole and senior vp production Carla Gardini will oversee the project, with David List attached as a producer. "This is an important franchise for our company, and we can't think of a better person than Bill to take the 'Fletch' story all the way back to the beginning," Cole said. "His work on 'Scrubs' speaks for itself, and his ideas for adapting 'Fletch Won' are hilarious and incredibly smart."
Weinstein executive vp business and legal affairs Eric Roth negotiated the deal with Howard West of Shapiro/West & Associates, Jared Levine at Barnes, Morris, Klein, Yorn, Barnes & Levine and Emile Gladstone of BWCS for Lawrence.
The Weinstein Co. has signed Lawrence to helm and adapt Gregory Mcdonald's 1985 comic-mystery novel "Fletch Won," which follows the irreverent detective from his early days as a ne'er-do-well junior newspaper reporter to his partnership with a crime reporter to solve a murder.
Mcdonald's best-sellers were brought to the screen in 1985's "Fletch" and 1989's "Fletch Lives," both starring Chevy Chase.
"Zach is perfect for the role," Lawrence said in an interview from his Los Angeles office, where Braff sat laughing in the background. "I'm going to use all my pull trying to make him do it." Filming is expected to start in April once the current season of "Scrubs" completes filming. No cast members have been signed yet.
It was Braff who helped bring Lawrence on board by suggesting his "Scrubs" executive producer to Harvey Weinstein, leading to talks between the pair over the past six months. "Zach knows I can recite the original 'Fletch' movie line for line," said Lawrence, who also has read all of Mcdonald's "Fletch" novels.
The director is well aware of the cult surrounding the books and films, which seems to weigh heavily on him. "My closest friends from high school don't care about my career," he said. "This is the only job I've ever gotten where every one of them said, 'Congratulations,' and then said, 'Don't fuck it up.' "
Lawrence plans to make his "Fletch" with a bit more edge. "There were definitely broader, sketchier parts in the earlier films," he said. "I'd compare this one more to 'Beverly Hills Cop,' where there was a sense of real jeopardy. Like 'Batman Begins,' I (also) think people will enjoy seeing how Irwin Fletcher became Fletch."
Weinstein co-president of production Michael Cole and senior vp production Carla Gardini will oversee the project, with David List attached as a producer. "This is an important franchise for our company, and we can't think of a better person than Bill to take the 'Fletch' story all the way back to the beginning," Cole said. "His work on 'Scrubs' speaks for itself, and his ideas for adapting 'Fletch Won' are hilarious and incredibly smart."
Weinstein executive vp business and legal affairs Eric Roth negotiated the deal with Howard West of Shapiro/West & Associates, Jared Levine at Barnes, Morris, Klein, Yorn, Barnes & Levine and Emile Gladstone of BWCS for Lawrence.
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