Josh Schwartz tries on 'Fun Size'

Paramount has picked up "Fun Size," a comedy spec from "The Colbert Report" writer Max Werner, for Josh Schwartz to produce with his Fake Empire shingle partner Stephanie Savage.

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The acquisition is the first to be made under a two-year, first-look deal that Fake Empire recently inked with the studio.

The company's deal officially begins June 1, but the script so impressed Schwartz that the producer -- best known for such youth-centered TV series as "The O.C.," "Gossip Girl" and "Chuck" -- jumped on the project, which would be made for less than $20 million.

Loglines are being kept under wraps, but "Fun" is described as a cross between "Superbad" and "Adventures in Babysitting" that is set on Halloween.

"Fun" was brought to Fake Empire by Lis Rowinski, the shingle's new vp features. Schwartz and Savage will produce with Anonymous Content.

" 'Fun Size' is exactly the kind of project we're targeting at Paramount: funny, smart and surprisingly emotional," Schwartz said. "Rowinski put it on our radar before we'd even moved onto the lot. We weren't planning on bringing anything in so soon, but the script was too good. We couldn't wait."

Said Werner: "I grew up on John Hughes films and miss those great character-based comedies that make you feel something. 'Fun Size' is about real characters who are smart, funny and a little bit offbeat."

The project falls in line with Fake Empire's goals of reaching younger audiences and those driving contemporary culture. The company also is developing projects in the digital, music and publishing spheres.

The "Fun" sale was in the low- to mid-six figures.

"Fun" is New York-based Werner's first feature script. He is repped by WME and Anonymous.