Universal Pictures has acquired an untitled original pitch from “Neighbors” scribe Brendan O’Brien that will serve as a starring vehicle for Will Ferrell, who will also produce under his Gary Sanchez Productions banner, TheWrap has learned.
O’Brien will write the script for the action-comedy, which follows an escaped convict who teams up with an unlikely partner (Ferrell) to stop his girlfriend from getting married.
Ferrell, O’Brien, Adam McKay and Jessica Elbaum will produce for Gary Sanchez Productions, while Chris Henchy will serve as an executive producer. Universal executive Erik Baiers will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.
O’Brien most recently co-wrote and produced New Line’s comedy “The House,” which stars Ferrell and Amy Poehler. That film will hit theaters in June 2017. He also co-wrote and executive produced Universal’s hit 2014 comedy “Neighbors,” the upcoming sequel “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” and 20th Century Fox’s Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” both of which will be released this summer.
Gary Sanchez recently teamed with Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone‘s On the Day Productions to produce “The Boss,” which opened atop the domestic box office with $23.6 million.
UTA represents Ferrell and O’Brien, and Gary Sanchez is co-repped by UTA and WME. THR broke the news.